BJP, Cong, NC, CPM finalize delegations
Oppn to seek level-playing field, adequate security
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 6: Full Election Commission will be meeting major national and regional political parties to take their viewpoint on the Assembly election on Day one of its visit on August 8 in Srinagar followed by the review of security and election preparedness with top brass of Election office, Administration, Deputy Commissioners, SSPs etc.
The Commission’s separate meetings with political parties will start at 10.30 am in Srinagar on August 8 i.e. soon after their arrival in Srinagar. They will be in the Valley on August 8 and 9 and in Jammu on August 10.
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BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina has deputed three senior leaders of the party for giving party’s opinion to the Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar. The leaders include Sunil Sethi and RS Pathania, senior Advocates and Rafiq Wani, BJP Seh Prabhari Kashmir.
“The BJP is ready for the Assembly elections. The Election Commission should announce the polls,” Raina said, adding the BJP delegation will submit comprehensive viewpoint to the Commission during its meeting in Srinagar.
The Congress leaders who will call on the Commission in Srinagar include Ravinder Sharma, Peerzada Sayeed, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Raman Bhalla and Lal Singh.
Asserting that the Congress is ready for the Assembly elections, Ravinder Sharma, former MLC said the party will seek level-playing field for all political parties in the polls including adequate security cover not only to the contestants but also the party leaders.
“Security to the Congress leaders is one of our concerns which we will take up during our meeting with the Commission,” Sharma said.
Sakina Itoo, former Minister, Shammi Oberoi and Nasir Aslam Wani will represent the National Conference in the meeting with the Election Commission, the party leaders said, adding the NC has repeatedly been asking the Commission to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The National Conference will also demand restoration of Statehood before the elections are announced,” they said.
CPM delegation will comprise Mohammad Abbas Rather, Abdul Rashid and Ghulam Mohammad Shah, party general secretary MY Tarigami said.
He said the CPM will seek fair elections with level-playing field and adequate security for all candidates and campaigners keeping in view the security scenario.
Various other political parties including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) and People’s Conference have also been called for the meeting with the Election Commission.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir has issued letters to the political parties, inviting them for a meeting with the Election Commission (EC).
CEC Rajiv Kumar will be accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu.
Besides meeting the political parties, the Commission will also review the situation with CEO PK Pole and the central forces coordinator.
The Commission will review the preparations with District Election Officers (DEOs) and SSPs of all districts, as well as the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police.
On August 10, the Commission will visit Jammu for a review meeting with enforcement agencies. It will also hold a press conference in Jammu to brief the media on the review process.
Whenever Assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir, they will be the first since provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution were abrogated and the erstwhile State divided into two Union Territories in 2019.
The electoral exercise in Jammu and Kashmir is usually spread over a month.
Following a delimitation exercise, the number of Assembly seats has gone up from 83 to 90, excluding those allocated to Kashmiri migrants, women and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) refugees, totalling five.
Last December, the Supreme Court directed the poll panel to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024.
CEO’s office starts process to hire helicopters
The CEO’s office has set the ball rolling for hiring of helicopters for the Assembly elections in J&K.
The helicopters are being required from September to November, but, as per documents, the timing can change depending upon election schedule to be announced by the Election Commission of India.
“The CEO’s office has invited bids from reputed companies for hiring a helicopter and a helicopter ambulance for the Assembly polls in the Union Territory, which is without an elected Government for over six years now,” the officials said.
These helicopters are required from September to November.
“The period and number of days can change depending on the actual schedule of Legislative Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The period and number of days shall be communicated accordingly,” read the documents.
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