ECI Team To Review Poll Preparedness In Jammu & Kashmir
SRINAGAR: A high-level team from the Election Commission of India (ECI) will arrive in Srinagar on Thursday morning to review the preparedness for the long-anticipated assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir. The region has been without an elected government for over six years.
The full commission, including Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, is scheduled to arrive at 10 am after departing New Delhi at 8 am. Their visit aims to engage with various stakeholders to ensure comprehensive feedback on the upcoming elections.
Starting at 11:15 am, the ECI team will meet representatives from recognized state and national political parties to gather insights and opinions on the election process. According to PK Pole, Chief Electoral Officer of J&K, the political parties include the National Conference, Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Aam Aadmi Party. Notably, the Panthers Party will not be part of these discussions due to the freezing of its name and symbol by the poll body on March 20, 2024.
Following these interactions, the commission will hold a joint meeting with all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) at 2 pm. This meeting will include all twenty DCs and twenty-three SSPs/SPs, focusing on logistical and security preparations for the elections.
At 7 pm, the ECI team will meet with the Chief Electoral Officer, the State Police Nodal Officer, and the Coordinator of Central Paramilitary Forces to further review election preparedness.
The commission’s schedule also includes a meeting with Chief Secretary Atul Dullo and Director General of Police RR Swain at 9 pm. Post this meeting, the team will travel to Jammu to hold discussions with various law enforcement agencies at 1 am.
Before departing for New Delhi at 4:40 pm, the ECI is expected to hold a press conference at 2:30 pm in Jammu to address any queries and provide updates on the election process.
This visit follows the Supreme Court’s directive last year, mandating the ECI to conduct assembly polls in Jammu & Kashmir by September 30, 2024.
