Mr Kumar mentioned the lengthy queues for polling represented the hopes of the individuals.
New Delhi:
Saying the dates for the Meeting elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar mentioned on Friday that the Lok Sabha polls within the Union Territory had been a triumph of “poll over bullet”.
Mr Kumar emphasised that the Lok Sabha elections, which had been held in 5 phases between 19 April and Could 25, had seen historic participation, with a voter turnout of 58.58%. The participation and the queues of voters, he mentioned, was proof that individuals not solely wished change however wished to be part of the change.
“We went to Jammu and Kashmir to take inventory of the ballot preparedness lately. You’ll keep in mind the lengthy queues at polling stations through the Lok Sabha elections, which offered a spectacle of the power of democracy. They weren’t simply lengthy queues, they represented the hopes of the individuals and their need to script a brand new future for themselves. All people wished to take part and show a degree that they had been within the queue not solely to vote however to reveal a really robust need to make sure that democracy prospers on this space,” Mr Kumar mentioned in Hindi.
“This confirmed that the individuals not solely wished change however wished to write down their very own destinies by being a part of the change. This was purely a triumph of poll over bullet. The three Lok Sabha constituencies within the Valley noticed a voter turnout of 51%. The individuals of the Valley mentioned no to violence and determined to make their voices heard by way of votes. The individuals of the Union Territory selected the poll over bullet and boycott,” he added.
The Election Fee mentioned not solely had youth made their voices heard on the polling sales space, however girls had performed so too, with the Union Territory seeing a turnout of 56.38% amongst them.
The Kashmir Valley additionally reached a brand new peak by way of ballot participation, seeing a 30-point improve in comparison with 2019.
The Meeting elections within the UT might be held in three phases, starting September 18 and ending on October 1, with counting happening on October 4.
First Meeting Elections In 10 Years
In December final yr, whereas delivering its verdict on Article 370, a five-judge Constitutional bench of the Supreme Court docket had directed the Election Fee to carry Meeting polls within the UT by September 30. It had additionally requested the Centre to revive statehood on the earliest.
The UT has been with out an elected authorities for over six years and the final Meeting elections had been held in December 2014.
Jammu and Kashmir has additionally accomplished 5 years as a Union Territory this yr. On August 5, 2019, the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories and its particular standing below Article 370 was eliminated. It has been administered by the lieutenant governor since then.
