Srinagar, Aug 08: Lauding the J&K administration for the good work during parliamentary polls, the Election Commission today asked the officials to work hard to aim for new standards beyond the benchmark of Lok Sabha elections.
Top officials from civil and police administration met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The team arrived in Srinagar this morning to meet representatives of political parties, civil, police, and other top officials.
The top officials including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, all 20 Deputy Commissioners, and 23 Senior Superintendents of Police and Superintendents of Police (SPs) briefed the ECI team about the poll preparations and security situation.
Sources said the Election Commission hailed the divisional and district administration, police, and other security officers for ensuring free, fair, and peaceful Lok Sabha polls. Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest voter turnout in a Lok Sabha poll in the last 35 years, with the Kashmir Valley witnessing a “massive” 30 points jump in poll participation compared to 2019.
Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag-Rajouri recorded turnout of 38.49 percent, 59.1 percent, and 54.84 percent respectively, which has been the highest in the last three decades.
The other two seats in the UT — Udhampur and Jammu — recorded 68.27 percent and 72.22 percent voter turnout respectively.
Taking a cue from the Lok Sabha polls, the EC team commended the officials and asked them to pull up their socks, sources said.
“ All district commissioners, district police chiefs, divisional commissioners, CAPF, and other government officials were praised for their professionalism and dedication to their duties. EC appreciated the administration for making the impossible possible through their efforts.” Sources said.
The poll body is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the situation and review preparations for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, which are long overdue.
The Supreme Court has set a deadline of September 30 for the poll body to hold polls in the Union Territory
