Srinagar, August 8: The Election Commission of India (ECI), spearheaded by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, has arrived in Srinagar for a crucial two-day visit aimed at addressing the protracted delay of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation also includes Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The ECI team is set to engage with representatives from six major political parties today, including the National Conference, PDP, Congress, BJP, CPI(M), and Panthers Party. These discussions, scheduled to start at 11 am, will focus on gathering insights and recommendations regarding the logistics and timing of the upcoming assembly elections.
Later in the day, the team will consult with Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police from all 20 districts of the Union Territory. They will also hold talks with Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole and other key election officials in the evening.
On August 9, the ECI team will confer with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dullo and the Director General of Police. Following this, they will travel to Jammu for meetings with security agencies, culminating in a press conference to outline the outcomes of their discussions.
This visit is particularly significant as it precedes the Supreme Court’s September 30 deadline for organizing elections in the region. Jammu and Kashmir has been under President’s rule since June 2018, and the last assembly elections were held in 2014. Political parties are actively advocating for the restoration of statehood and the swift scheduling of elections.
