Srinagar: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Friday said the Election Commission (EC) is committed to conducting Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir UT, and that it will not postpone the elections on account of terror attacks, any kind of violence and nefarious designs of forces that do not want polls to be held in the Union Territory (UT).
Kumar said the EC would conduct polls in the UT at the earliest and not allow any internal or external forces to derail the electoral process. He said the administration was capable of meeting security challenges and added that the time was “ripe” for conducting Assembly elections as the EC was keen to build on the success of holding the Lok Sabha polls, which saw record turnouts in the UT.
“We are committed to conducting elections at the earliest in Jammu and Kashmir. We are confident that the people will respond robustly to disruptive forces and we will witness increased voter participation whenever elections are held,” Kumar said following the conclusion of the two-day visit.
Flanked by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu, the CEC said that the EC has completed its state-level review while emphasising that the time is right for holding assembly elections in the region.
“Time is ripe for holding the assembly elections and one will be allowed to disrupt the process. This will be a chicken and egg situation if we succumb to such tactics of the enemies of peace,” he said.
“Our security forces are prepared to tackle any such situation,” the CEC said.
“We are confident and it is our resolve to hold the assembly elections in J&K at the earliest,” he said.
Kumar said the timing of elections in any state depends on the expiry of the assembly’s term.
“Elections in four to five states are scheduled for this year, each with separate timelines, and we are prepared for that,” he said.
With the Amarnath Yatra concluding on August 19, he said the security situation and force requirements would be assessed in Delhi.
During their visit, the CEC-led team met representatives from nine political parties — the BJP, Congress, AAP, BSP, CPIM, National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, J&K National Panthers Party (Bhim), and J&K Panthers Party (India) — in Srinagar to gather their viewpoints.
“These are recognised parties in the state. All parties unanimously praised the people and the Election Commission for conducting peaceful and historic parliamentary elections in J-K.
“They acknowledged that the high voter participation was a historic achievement, with no untoward incidents. Public faith in the electoral process has increased,” Kumar said.
Kumar noted that all parties agreed that elections should be held as early as possible and also called for a level playing field in the elections.
“They emphasised the need for elected representatives to connect better with the people, ensuring the progress of democracy in the region. They believe that the people should form their own government, and elections should be held soon,” he said.
Regarding the recent spurt in terror attacks and violence, especially in the Jammu region,
“Given the overwhelming response during the parliamentary elections, there is a need to build on that momentum. State government officials have also said that they are ready to hold elections, and no concerns about any inconvenience were raised,” he said.
Kumar also assured that the enthusiasm and high voter turnout seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections would not be diminished by such minor challenges.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that nothing disrupts the election process. Such situations will not arise, and we will not allow any forces to succeed by delaying the polls,” he said.
“The forces and administration are more than capable of dealing with any such situation. The flag of democracy will continue to fly high,” he added.
He said a “positive challenge” was the anticipated increase in participation from both candidates and voters.
“The challenge lies in making this a reality on the ground,” he said.
Kumar stressed that all officials have been directed to be proactive in making the necessary arrangements at polling stations and on the ground.
“There was significant enthusiasm among young voters, and we aim to build on this momentum by providing an appropriate atmosphere, which is also a challenge we are ready to meet,” he said.
The CEC outlined various directives regarding security, voter facilities, and providing the best possible environment for the elections.
