New Delhi: The Election Commission will visit Jammy and Kashmir next week to prepare for elections in the Union Territory. The latest move by the commission is being seen as an indication that the Assembly elections might be held before the September 30 deadline that was set by the Supreme Court.
The commission may announce Assembly poll dates soon
As per NDTV, the commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is expected to meet the officials, as well as leaders of different political parties during its visit in Srinagar from August 8 to August 10. The commission may announce the Assembly elections in the state after August 15.
Earlier in December, the Supreme Court while delivering its verdict on Article 370 had asked the election commission to hold elections in the Union Territory by September 30. During the hearing, the apex had also directed the Centre to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
The commission had also asked the administration in the Union Territory to transfer officials posted in their home districts. It also gave similar states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Haryana where elections are slated to to be held this year.
It may be noted here that there has been no elected government for the last six years in the Union Territory. It was in December 2014 that the last Assembly Elections were held, In 2019, the then state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories. While one part was Jammu and Kashmir, the other UT carved out from the division was Ladakh. The Centre had also carved out special status granted to UT earlier. Recently, the Centre had also amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
