Jammu, Aug 9: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Friday that the EC was committed to conducting polls in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible and would not allow any internal or external forces to derail the electoral process.
Addressing a press conference here, Kumar said all parties in Jammu and Kashmir are “batting strongly” for holding assembly elections.
“We are committed to conducting polls in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest and will not let any internal or external forces derail the election. All political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are batting strongly for holding assembly elections as soon as possible,” he said.
Praising local people, he said the foundation laid by you (the people and the administration) is now awaiting the construction of a strong building. “We have to achieve new heights and the time for that has come. If any internal or external force thinks that they can interfere and derail the Assembly elections, they are wrong. We are sure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will give a befitting response to disruptive forces,” he said.
On how the elections were being planned given that the Union Territory has seen an uptick in terror attacks, the Chief Election Commissioner used the chicken-and-egg analogy.
“We are working with full commitment and resolve that nothing will be allowed to disrupt the elections. If we don’t, it will become a chicken-and-egg situation. Whenever we talk about elections, such activities will increase and we will be forced to step back. That will be like conceding defeat without even fighting. That won’t happen,” Kumar asserted.
“These things will not have an impact on the elections at all. Our forces and the administration are capable enough to deal with any situation that arises. The flag of ‘jamhuriyat’ (democracy) has been raised and will be raised further,” he added.
On the meetings with political parties, Kumar said they had spoken to national and recognized parties, all of whom had praised the people and the Election Commission for the way the Lok Sabha elections had been conducted there.
The state had seen a voter turnout of 58.46%, which was the highest in 35 years, and Kumar said all the parties had called that a “historic achievement”.
“The parties said it had good participation and no violent incidents took place, which boosted people’s confidence. All the parties demanded that the Assembly polls be held at the earliest so that there are elected representatives in Jammu and Kashmir who have a better connection with residents,” Kumar said.
Jammu and Kashmir has been without an elected government for over six years and the last Assembly elections were held there in December 2014. The Supreme Court has set a deadline of September 30 for the Election Commission to hold Assembly polls in the erstwhile state, whose special status under Article 370 was removed and it was bifurcated into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019
