Election Commission of India to Visit Jammu and Kashmir
The Election Commission of India (ECI) will visit Jammu and Kashmir from August 8th to 10th to assess the readiness for upcoming elections. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu, will engage with local officials and political parties in Srinagar and Jammu.
A key event is scheduled for August 10th, where the commission will hold a review meeting with enforcement agencies in Jammu, followed by a press conference to share their findings.
Earlier this year, CEC Kumar assured political leaders and residents of Jammu and Kashmir of the commission's commitment to conducting assembly elections in the UT. This assurance came during a prior visit by the commission, which assessed the situation ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections.
The recent Lok Sabha Elections in 2024 witnessed a record turnout, demonstrating significant engagement from the populace of Jammu and Kashmir. CEC Kumar noted, "This active participation is a huge positive for the upcoming Assembly elections, ensuring that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory."
Next week 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.