Full Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir in the middle of this month to assess ground situation in the Union Territory though there are no indications for conduct of Assembly elections shortly which are overdue.
Few days back, the CEC while addressing a press conference in New Delhi stated that there is vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir which needs to be filled.
Sources told the that the full Election Commission will be visiting both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir and indications to this effect have already been dropped to all stakeholders for making preparations well in advance for presentation to the Commission.
While detailed schedule hasn’t been communicated so far, the visit could last two or three days as the full Commission has to interact with all top officials of the Election Department here, 20 Deputy Commissioners, representatives of all national and regional recognized political parties and other stakeholders.
The visit assumed significance as only few days back while announcing schedule for Karnataka Assembly elections at a press conference in New Delhi, CEC Rajiv Kumar had stated that there is vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir which needs to be filled. He also said that ongoing Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls will not affect the election schedule.
The Commission could also review the process for Summary Revision of electoral rolls. As per the Summary Revision schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, final electoral rolls of Jammu and Kashmir will be published on May 10, unless the schedule is extended.
“The Commission is likely to take feedback from all 20 Deputy Commissioners, other senior officers of civil and police administration on the situation, take view of the Election Commission officials in the UT, political parties and other organizations,” sources said.
It will make public its opinion after visiting the Union Territory, they added.
Sources were, however, of the view that there seems to be no possibility of holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in May-June because of summer, tourist season and annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji which will conclude on August 30.
However, there are chances that Panchayat and Municipal elections might be held in time from October to December as these bodies will complete their five-year term in January next year. Lok Sabha elections are due in April-May 2024.
As per the Summary Revision, the people can file claims and objections from April 5-20. Claims and objections will be disposed of on April 28. Checking of health parameters and obtaining Commission’s permission for final publication and updating database and printing of supplements will be done on May 4 while final rolls will be published on May 10.
Last Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in November-December 2014 leading to formation of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP-BJP coalition Government in March 2015 after hectic consultations. The BJP, however, withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti led Government in July 2018 that led to imposition of President’s rule followed by Governor’s rule in the erstwhile State.
During revocation of special status of erstwhile State and its bifurcation into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, J&K was given 90-member Legislative Assembly on August 5, 2019. However, first election to the Assembly is yet to be held as the Delimitation Commission took two years to complete the exercise which was followed by Special summary Revision and was completed on November 26, 2022.
“The Summary Revision does not disturb the scheduled part of Assembly elections, the conduct part that depends on various other factors for which we will come back to you. We are aware that there is a vacuum that needs to be filled,” the CEC had said few days back.
Recently, Kumar had said that Assembly polls in J&K will be held keeping in mind various factors, including weather and security concerns. He had noted that the delimitation process in the UT was completed and so was the Special Summary Revision or revision of electoral rolls.
The CEC had said Returning Officers and Additional Electoral Registration Officers had also been appointed in the rearranged and new constituencies.
