SRINAGAR: The stage is all set for the visit of the Election Commission to Jammu and Kashmir on August 8 to review preparations for assembly polls.
The commission will visit Kashmir Valley first and later go to Jammu during their two-day visit. The election commission will most likely announce the election dates for the Union Territory, as the Supreme Court of India has given a deadline for holding the elections in Jammu and Kashmir before September 30.
Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of 10 years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014. With the ECI visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the political parties in the region are gearing up their efforts in anticipation of the long-awaited Assembly elections. The visit of the ECI is pivotal for determining the timeline for the much-awaited polls.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is going to meet the representatives of political parties tomorrow at SKICC Srinagar ahead of the approaching deadline of the J&K Assembly Elections.
An official said that two to three representatives from each political party are scheduled to meet the ECI at SKICC on Thursday (8 August 2024) morning.
“The meeting of the ECI with political parties is to get feedback from the latter in connection with the conducting of Assembly Elections in J&K,” the official said.
About tomorrow’s meeting, a section of one of the official communique addressed to the President/General Secretary CPI(M) by the Special Secretary CEO, J&K reads, “[It is] hereby intimated that Hon’ble Election Commission of India has desired to meet the representatives [of political parties] on 8th August 2024 at 10:30 AM in SKICC Srinagar. You are accordingly requested to send the representatives nominated by your party to meet the Hon’ble Election Commission of India on the scheduled date, time, and venue.”
It is pertinent to mention that the Supreme Court of India had already given direction to the ECI for conducting the Assembly Elections in J&K by September 30, 2024.
The ECI’s schedule for its visit includes a series of important meetings. Upon arriving in Srinagar, the team will first meet with recognized national and regional political parties. This will be followed by discussions with district commissioners and superintendents of police and later a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer and senior police officials.
On August 9, the ECI team will meet with top officials, including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, before heading to Jammu for further discussions with enforcement agencies and holding a press conference.
