The Election Commission of India (ECI) is gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. A three-member team led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar will visit the Union Territory from August 8 to 10 to assess the readiness for the polls.
During their visit, the ECI team will engage with local administrative officials and representatives from various political parties in the regions of Srinagar and Jammu. They will also hold a review meeting with enforcement agencies in Jammu on August 10, followed by a press conference to inform the media about their findings.
The ECI's visit comes after CEC Rajiv Kumar assured political leaders and residents of Jammu and Kashmir of the commission's commitment to conducting assembly elections in the UT earlier this year. The recent Lok Sabha Elections in 2024 witnessed a record turnout, demonstrating significant engagement from the populace of Jammu and Kashmir.
Next week's visit marks a significant milestone, as Jammu and Kashmir will complete five years as a Union Territory. The region was bifurcated into two Union Territories in 2019, coinciding with the abrogation of its special status under Article 370. Since then, governance has been under the authority of the Lieutenant Governor.