j-k-gears-up-for-assembly-poll-after-a-decade

Jammu & Kashmir's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has initiated the process for assembly elections in the Union Territory, instructing district election officers (DEOs) to implement the tasks outlined in the Election Commission of India's election planner after a decade.

 

According to an official letter obtained by a local news agency, the CEO has directed all 20 deputy commissioners, who also act as district election officials, to take up responsibilities outlined in the ECI's "election planner".

The letter from the CEO's office states, "As you are aware, the process of conducting elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir has been set in motion by the Election Commission of India by issuing the schedule for the summary revision of the electoral roll vide its letter No: 23/2024-ERS(vol. III) dated 20-06-2024.

 

“I am thus directing you to begin the activities outlined in the election planner communicated by the Election Commission of India via letter No: 464/INST/2022-EPS dated 27-12-2022 so that the pre-poll activities are carried out appropriately and completed within the time frame specified for the successful conduct of elections to the Legislative Assembly."

 

The election commission overlooks plans and activities required for the election.

On June 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to Srinagar stated that preparations for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir had begun.

 

"What could be better than the people of Jammu and Kashmir electing representatives and dealing with their issues through them? This is why preparations for the assembly elections have begun.

 

You will soon be able to elect the future administration of Jammu and Kashmir with your votes. "The day will come soon when J&K will shape its future as a state once more," he stated.

 

In the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as the single largest party, winning 28 seats out of 87. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 25 seats, making it the second-largest party.

 

After the elections, the PDP and BJP formed a coalition government. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of the PDP was sworn in as Chief Minister on March 1, 2015.

 

Following his death in January 2016, his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, took over as Chief Minister in April 2016.

 

This coalition government continued until June 2018, when the BJP pulled out of the alliance, leading to the imposition of the governor's rule in the state.

 

This will be the first assembly election in ten years and the first since J&K's special status was revoked.

 

Political parties, especially the National Conference (NC), have begun early preparations for the upcoming polls in the Union Territory.