ECI chief Rajiv Kumar, along with election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu, arrived in Srinagar on Thursday morning on a three-day visit to the union territory and met representatives of political parties as well as senior police and administrative officials.
“The situation is absolutely fine to conclude assembly elections before September 30, 2024. Democratic process cannot be held hostage to some militant incidents or any other minor security challenge, which our forces are capable enough to deal with,” said RS Pathania of BJP, a former MLA from Jammu. He said the administration should ensure that security is provided to members of all political parties without any prejudice.
The Supreme Court in December upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and issued a mandatory suggestion to hold assembly elections before September 2024. The last assembly election in J&K was held in 2014 and PDP-BJP alliance government formed thereafter fell in June 2018, when BJP withdrew its support.
“This visit should have a positive outcome and should not end as just another visit to this region. We urged ECI to hold elections as the LG (lieutenant governor) and a few advisors cannot run the region,” said Nasir Wani of the National Conference, a former home minister of the erstwhile state of J&K.
PDP leader Asiya Naqash told ECI that in absence of an elected government, J&K is being pushed into chaos. “We are hopeful that they will announce elections at the end of this visit. We informed them about the consequences of rising unemployment in the region and how youngsters have nowhere to go with their concerns and complaints,” said Naqash.A senior BJP leader who attended the meeting said ECI had put up a banner during the meeting which read ‘assembly elections 2024’, indicating that election could be held soon.Congress leader GN Monga said the party delegation urged ECI to hold assembly elections immediately and ensure a level playing field for all parties and candidates.
On Friday, the team will fly to Jammu, where it is scheduled to address a presser, among other engagements.
