*Availability of CAPFs for Assembly polls to figure
*Jammu situation may come up for special review
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 13: After review of elections preparedness and security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will be meeting a team of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) led by Home Secretary AK Bhalla in the Union capital tomorrow reportedly to discuss various aspects of the security and availability of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) required for holding smooth elections especially in the wake of recent surge in terror attacks in the Jammu region.
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The meeting scheduled at Nirvachan Sadan will be attended by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, two Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu while the Home Ministry team will be led by AK Bhalla. Other senior officers of the MHA dealing with the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are also expected to attend the meeting.
The meeting is expected to take the Home Ministry’s view point on prevalent security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and number of the companies of additional paramilitary forces which the MHA can make available to the Commission for peaceful conduct of Assembly elections which will be the first after J&K became a Union Territory on August 5, 2019 following abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India and bifurcation of erstwhile State into two UTs, the other being Ladakh.
A detailed review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir was held by the full Commission in Srinagar with top officers of civil and police administration besides all 20 Deputy Commissioners, who act as District Election Officers (DEOs) and district SSPs. The Commission had stated that it will take another security review in New Delhi.
Officials said the Union Home Secretary will give assessment of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir which matters a lot as all paramilitary forces deployed in the UT for anti-terror operations regularly give a feedback to the MHA. Jammu and Kashmir Police also give regular assessment of the situation to the Lieutenant Governor as well as the Home Secretary when asked for.
“Over 400 additional companies of paramilitary forces are already deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji which is scheduled to conclude on August 19. Besides following surge in terror attacks, more than 3000 Army soldiers and 2000 BSF jawans have also been deployed in the Jammu region including the borders. Around 1500-2000 Assam Rifles jawans are also being deployed in the region,” the officials said, adding their presence can help in smooth conduct of elections.
Jammu and Kashmir Police and its wing the Special Operations Group (SOG) have also strengthened their positions in the upper reaches. More Village Defence Guards (VDGs) have been recruited and they are being equipped with semi-automatic weapons.
Security scenario in the Jammu region is expected to come up for a special review in the wake of surge in terror attacks in the past few months.
There has been Supreme Court direction of December 11, 2023 that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held before September 30, 2024. The Election Commission has been making preparations for the elections taking the deadline into account.
A Special Summary Revision of the electoral rolls is also going on.
Generally, the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are held in four to five phases depending upon the availability of additional paramilitary forces from the Home Ministry. Last Assembly elections in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir were held in November-December 2014. The PDP-BJP Government lasted till June 2018 and since then J&K has been without an elected dispensation.
Last Assembly poll was held for 87 seats which came down to 83 after Ladakh division, which having four Assembly constituencies, was made a separate UT. However, with increase of seven seats, J&K UT now has 90-seat Assembly with nine seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) for the first time and eight for the Scheduled Castes (SCs).
Like Parliament and other Assemblies, the Central Government has also passed a law in the Parliament for grant of 33 percent reservations to women in J&K Assembly. However, this reservation will come into effect after 2029.
There are 87.09 lakh electorates and 11,838 Polling Stations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Among 87.09 lakh voters, 44.46 lakh are males and 42.62 lakh are females.
Besides, there are 169 transgender, 82590 People with Disabilities (PwDs), 73943 Very Senior Citizens, 2660 Centenarians, 76092 Service Electors and 3.71 lakh First Time Voters.
Number of the Polling Stations in Jammu and Kashmir is 11,838 including 2332 in urban areas and 9506 in rural areas.
Average voters per Polling Station stand at 735.
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