Major political parties in Jammu and Kashmir who met the Election Commission of India (ECI) team on Thursday demanded immediate conduct of Assembly polls and sought a level playing field.
The ECI team headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, arrived in Srinagar on Thursday morning to review the poll preparedness.
The Supreme Court on December 11, 2023, while upholding the abrogation of the special status granted to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had directed the poll panel to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30. The last Assembly election in the erstwhile state was held in 2014.
Officials said the two-day visit of ECI aims to facilitate comprehensive discussions and assessments for the upcoming Assembly elections.
“An ECI delegation led by CEC Rajiv Kumar and ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. SS Sandhu arrived at Srinagar today to review poll preparedness in J&K,” the Election Commission of India posted on X.
Most of the political parties demanded immediate conduct of the Assembly polls in J&K.
National Conference provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, who led the party delegation, said they demanded immediate assembly elections
“We told the Election Commission that there has been no government since 2018 and no elections for 10 years. We need representatives to address political, development, and security issues. We asked for a level playing field and unbiased decisions,” said Wani.
He said NC has no enmity with the Lieutenant Governor as he is a political appointee.
“We feel his (LG’s) decisions should not be biased. The officers should not be posted for their benefit,” he said.
Peoples Democratic Party leader Khurshid Alam told the poll panel that it’s time for them to announce dates for Assembly polls.
”?We told them that around one crore tourists have visited the JK, the parliamentary elections were held and the Amarnath Yatra has taken place peacefully. Now what is stopping them from holding elections? ” he asked.
“Prime Minister and Home Minister have said in Parliament that the situation has improved, then what is stopping them from holding elections? The people have no one to go to as it’s run by an administration that has no idea about the people’s issues. ? We just hope this is our last meeting before the elections now ” Alam told reporters after the meeting.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga, who was part of the party delegation, said that they told ECI that the people of J & K have been without elections for the last many years and democracy should flourish.
“We call ourselves the mother of democracy but the people of J&K have been without elections for the last many years,” Monga said.
The Congress appealed to ECI that the same scale should be adopted when it comes to the security of political leaders.
The Bhartiya Janata Party leaders who met the ECI delegation said that they demanded holding elections in the UT before the deadline set up by the Supreme Court.
“We are very hopeful, that Jammu Kashmir will see a democratic government very soon. I am hopeful that the notification will be released soon, ” said R S Pathania, BJP Leader.
After meeting the political parties, the ECI held a meeting with district commissioners and superintendents of police of all the districts of J&K.
On August 9, the ECI team will meet with top J&K officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, before heading to Jammu for further discussions.
