“The maiden assembly elections in post Article 370 abrogation scenario would be a new experience under a new arrangement for the political parties in Jammu & Kashmir.”
The much awaited elections to Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory Assembly have been finally announced and unmatched enthusiasm triggered by the poll schedule announcement by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has generated a political euphoria in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. The change in the boundaries of the assembly constituencies in the backdrop of delimitation of assembly constituencies besides extension of most of the central laws to Jammu & Kashmir has changed the ground realities for the political parties across Jammu & Kashmir. So the maiden assembly elections in post Article 370 abrogation scenario would be a new experience under a new arrangement for the political parties in Jammu & Kashmir. Maintaining peace for the smooth conduct of the assembly elections would be the biggest challenge for both the Political Parties and as well as the Election Commission in Jammu & Kashmir. Since the upcoming assembly elections would be held despite recent militant attacks on police and army in Jammu region, the peaceful conduct of elections is obviously a pressing concern for both the political parties and as well as the Election Commission .
“Since peaceful campaigning and polling are the two biggest priorities for both the Political Parties and as well as the Election Commission, the cooperation from political parties will be very crucial to a peace in Jammu & Kashmir during both the campaigning and as well as the polling on polling days. So the priority for both the political parties and as well as the Election Commission is to create a peaceful atmosphere for the voter to come out and vote without fear.”
Under all circumstances the role of political parties in holding peaceful elections would be obviously very crucial. So while seeking a level playing field during the elections the political parties are also morally duty bound to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities in maintaining peace and order during both the campaigning and as well as the polling on the polling days. Reducing unprecedentedly both the duration and the phases for the assembly elections itself speaks volumes about the confidence of the Election Commission in the security situation which has hugely improved during last five years in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. While the security is not as big a challenge as it used to be during three decades of militancy and street protests but Election Commission has spoken very high about the alertness of the security grid in Jammu & Kashmir. For all good reasons the political parties have expressed gratitude to Election Commission for fulfilling its commitment on holding assembly elections immediately after Lok Sabha elections but they are now facing an acid test during the campaigning and polling on polling days equally both in Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. Since peaceful campaigning and polling are the two biggest priorities for both the Political Parties and as well as the Election Commission, the cooperation from political parties will be very crucial to a peace in Jammu & Kashmir during both the campaigning and as well as the polling on polling days. So the priority for both the political parties and as well as the Election Commission is to create a peaceful atmosphere for the voter to come out and vote without fear.
