Poll Panel to assess situation in UT
*Decision on election schedule after visit
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 1: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to undertake visit to Jammu and Kashmir in the next few days to assess ground situation before taking a call on announcement of Assembly elections in the Union Territory.
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“Dates for the visit of the full Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar will be worked out in consultations with the UT administration but it is expected to take place shortly,” officials told the Excelsior.
Final electoral rolls of Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be published on August 20 but delay of few days in the publication can’t be ruled out. However, by all means, the rolls are likely to be published around August 25.
The Election Commission, as per the officials, will visit both Jammu and Kashmir divisions, interact with top officials of the administration, the District Election Officers (DEOs), representatives of political parties and all other stakeholders for the elections.
Last month, the Election Commission officials held series of meetings with Election Department officials of the UT through video conferencing to review progress on ongoing Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls and other preparations for the Assembly elections.
The Commission, according to sources, had to assess security situation in the UT and take report from the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police besides the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Besides J&K civil administration, the Commission also has to take a report from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs before deciding on conduct of the Assembly elections.
The Supreme Court while upholding abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in its judgment dated December 11, 2023, asked the Election Commission to conduct Assembly elections in the Union Territory before September 30, 2024.
Only yesterday, the Election Commission issued an order directing the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to ensure that no officer is posted in the home district. The Commission has sought the compliance report from both the senior officers on August 20.
Sources said the police view on security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir will matter a lot in deciding timing and phases of the Assembly elections as the Jammu region has witnessed a spurt in terror attacks in the past few months. There were reports that more than 50 foreign terrorists may be hiding in upper reaches in some districts of the Jammu region.
No election has been held to the 90-member Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir after it became the Union Territory on August 5, 2019 when special status of erstwhile State was abrogated and Ladakh, a division of the then State, was also carved out as separate UT. In next four days, J&K will complete five years of becoming the UT.
Besides 90 seats where elections are to be held including 47 in Kashmir division and 43 in Jammu division, there is a provision for nomination of five MLAs including two women, two Kashmiri migrants, one of them a woman, and one Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) refugee.
Other than this, 24 Assembly seats are reserved for PoJK which is in illegal occupation of Pakistan.
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