SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: The Election Commission of India is set to meet with Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Wednesday to assess the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where Assembly elections are expected to take place soon.
Top official Sources told Kashmir Despatch that the Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, will hold discussions to review the preparations for the upcoming polls. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are scheduled to be conducted in October-November 2024.
Official sources said that during the meeting, the Election Commission will evaluate the security arrangements and the availability of forces in order to ensure a smooth and secure electoral process. The Commission is committed to holding the elections in a fair manner, free from any internal or external disruptions.
The announcement of the election dates is expected to be made soon after the meeting with the Home Secretary. The Election Commission aims to complete the entire electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir before the end of September, as per the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
Official Sources further informed Kashmir Despatch that the Election Commission’s meeting with the Home Secretary will also focus on the safeguarding of polling stations, the deployment of security personnel, and the prevention of any untoward incidents during the election period.
Notably, this meeting comes as political parties and citizens of Jammu and Kashmir eagerly await the announcement of the election schedule. The Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are highly anticipated, and all stakeholders are keen on ensuring a transparent and efficient electoral process.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday also reiterated that the government’s stance on assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir has remained “unchanged” since the abrogation of Article 370 and expressed hope that the Election Commission will soon declare the polling dates. He emphasized that the administration is ready to hold elections in the union territory, expressing confidence that they will be “peaceful and fair”.
