Srinagar, New Delhi|March, 16: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced during a press conference on Saturday that the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election will be conducted following the Lok Sabha polls.
He said that there will be no simultaneous Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections along with the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi to announce the Lok Sabha polls schedule and 4 state assemblies, CEC Rajiv Kumar said that only 4 states will go simultaneously to polls along with Lok Sabha and there will be no assembly polls in J&K.
Kumar affirmed the Election Commission’s dedication to conducting the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir promptly after the conclusion of the LS elections.
He explained that the decision not to hold simultaneous elections was due to logistical constraints, particularly concerning the provision of security forces to each candidate, which is unfeasible during nationwide elections.
Providing context, Kumar elucidated that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act underwent amendment in December 2023 following a delimitation exercise, setting the timeline for the Election Commission.
He highlighted the disparity between the initial provisions of the Act, which included seats from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the subsequent changes resulting from the delimitation commission’s work.
This misalignment was resolved in December 2023, initiating the Election Commission’s countdown for the upcoming elections.
Kumar emphasized that while all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir advocated for simultaneous Assembly and parliamentary polls, logistical realities dictated otherwise.
He cited the substantial number of candidates per Assembly segment, potentially exceeding 1,000 candidates, necessitating security arrangements that were unattainable at the time.
The polls will be held in 7 phases, beginning from April 19 and ending on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4. No simultaneous polls will be held, he said. (With Inputs from Agencies )
