Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar
There is no such thing as a delay, underscored the Chief Election Commissioner when identified that the polls dates for Jammu and Kashmir are crossing the September 30 deadline set by the Supreme Court docket.
Jammu and Kashmir, the place earlier meeting elections have been held within the 2014, could have polls in three phases – September 18, 25 and October 1, the Election Fee introduced at present. The votes will probably be counted on October 4.
The choice to carry contemporary elections follows a December order by Supreme Court docket that rejected petitions difficult the revocation of Kashmir’s particular standing and set a deadline of September 30 for holding the polls.
“The Amarnath Yatra ends on August 19. The parliamentary polls ended on June 4,6. Thereafter unhealthy climate, Amarnath Ji Yatra. There is no such thing as a approach one might have gone precisely on the date which is nineteenth. We aren’t giving even half a day when one might have began. And it’s effectively begun throughout the time interval and it will likely be completed in time,” mentioned Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner.
“So, it’s not a day right here and there which is essential. What’s essential is that we go by the spirit. The amendments to J&Ok Reorganization Act, when it comes to offering the reservations, got here in December 2023 so the time interval for the Fee began solely in December 2023. Thereafter got here the parliamentary elections, so we aren’t delayed in any respect,” the Chief Election Commissioner pressured.
Jammu and Kashmir’s particular standing was revoked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities in 2019 and the state was cut up into two federally-administered territories.
Practically 9 million individuals are registered to vote for the 90-member legislative meeting, the election panel mentioned.
The territory recorded its highest turnout of 58.46% in 35 years in parliamentary elections held in April and Might this yr.
The Modi authorities and election officers mentioned this mirrored the religion of Kashmir’s voters within the democratic course of.
Amid an uptick within the terror-related incidents within the current previous, the Chief Election Commissioner mentioned, “Safety threats to candidates will probably be completely beneath the radar of the institution and will probably be taken care of.”
“There may be competition season in J&Ok. There may be season of apple. Of Jasmine. Of Saffron. There are shikaras and tulips. There’s a Gurez competition additionally. All these items have come collectively,” mentioned the highest ballot officer, underlining that the time is true for the polls.
