Srinagar: The political parties in Srinagar Tuesday called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir concurrently with the Lok Sabha polls, as the panel commenced a two-day consultation with stakeholders to review preparedness for the upcoming general elections.
During interactions with delegations from the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Aam Admi Party, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and other officials of the poll panel were urged to hold assembly elections alongside the Lok Sabha polls.
NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani urged the need for simultaneous elections saying that the people of J&K had been deprived of their democratic rights for a decade.
Wani said that holding two separate elections in a year would disrupt the J&K economy, particularly its vibrant tourism sector.
He said that for ‘one nation, one election’ that aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, elections should start from Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP leader Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura also called for simultaneous polls.
BJP leader R S Pathania said his party was ready for simultaneous polls.
To facilitate the voting of Kashmiri Pandits, he demanded that polling booths be set up at places outside J&K where the members of the displaced community had been living.
The ECI’s consultations also included discussions on ensuring a fair electoral process and addressing concerns raised by political parties regarding the potential for election irregularities.
Following the meetings with political parties, the poll panel is set to review election preparedness with District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police.
The Election Commission officials are also scheduled to interact with J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer and nodal officers of the J&K Police.
The demand for simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls in J&K has been mounting, with prominent leaders such as Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad recently advocating for it.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo is also taking steps to ensure the smooth conduct of the Lok Sabha polls in J&K.
The ECI’s decision on the timing of the assembly elections in J&K is eagerly awaited as it carries significant implications for the region’s political landscape and democratic process.
