Aug 8: Immediate assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir was the dominant demand of all political leaders from the Union Territory who met the visiting Election Commission (EC) team here on Thursday.The team led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar arrived here in the morning and met with representatives of registered political parties, including the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party (JKPP), at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC)The EC delegation also comprising election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu was here on a three-day visit to review the preparedness for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and take feedback from political partiesTalking to reporters after party-wise meetings with the poll panel’s delegation, political leaders said they were unanimous in their demand for immediate assembly elections in the Union Territory (UT).
They also demanded that a level-playing field in the polls should be ensured for restoration of democracy in Jammu and KashmirTalking to reporters after party-wise meetings with the poll panel’s delegation, political leaders said they were unanimous in their demand for immediate assembly elections in the Union Territory (UT).
They also demanded that a level-playing field in the polls should be ensured for restoration of democracy in Jammu and KashmirThe Supreme Court has directed the central government to conclude the process of conducting the elections by September 30. The polls’ schedule is yet to be announced by the EC.
The BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit batted for immediate assembly elections. Its spokesperson R S Pathania said, “We told the EC that we want elections to be conducted as soon as possible.”The party wants the elections to be held within the Supreme Court’s deadline, he said.
NC Kashmir provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, who led a five-member party delegation, said the NC demanded immediate assembly elections. “Our only demand is that the people of J-K now want to have their own government. We told the EC that you came here many times and we met you but now there should be some definite decision on it,” he told reporters.
“We said there has been no government in J-K since 2018 and the assembly elections have not taken place for the last 10 years,” Wani said and added that the NC told the EC that a Lieutenant Governor, his lone advisor and a few bureaucrats cannot run the UT.
Political, developmental and security issues can be addressed when the people have their own representatives, he said and added that “they (the EC) have assured us that elections will take place this time”.Congress leader G N Monga said democracy should flourish in Jammu and Kashmir. “We call ourselves the mother of democracy but the people of J-K are without elections since last many years. Democracy should flourish here and elections should be held sooner,” he told reporters.Aug 8: Immediate assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir was the dominant demand of all political leaders from the Union Territory who met the visiting Election Commission (EC) team here on Thursday.
