Srinagar, Aug 08: Political parties unanimously called for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir during their meetings with the Election Commission of India (ECI) officials who arrived in the union territory on a two-day visit on Thursday.
Led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the ECI team met representatives of various political parties at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Center (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.
The meeting saw participation of representatives from major political parties, including the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party (JKPP).
After the party-wise meetings with the Election Commission delegation, political leaders said that they were united in their demand for immediate assembly elections in the Union Territory. They said there is immediate need for a level playing field in the polls to restore democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP leaders also voiced their support for early elections. Senior leader R.S. Pathania expressed hope for free and fair elections, aiming for the highest voter turnout on record. “We are optimistic that election dates will be announced soon, giving the people of J&K the opportunity to determine their future,” he said. BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi confirmed the party’s preparedness for elections, while acknowledging concerns about security and the scheduling of the polls.
National Conference, Kashmir, provincial president, Nasir Aslam Wani, who led a five-member delegation, stressed the urgency of restoring an elected government in J&K. “Our sole demand is that the people of J&K need their own government now. We have met with the EC numerous times, and it’s time for a concrete decision,” Wani said, adding that the poll body’s visit was encouraging, and he was hopeful that elections would be announced soon.
Wani expressed confidence that the Supreme Court’s September 30 deadline for statehood restoration would be met, arguing that if parliamentary elections could be conducted smoothly, there was no reason why assembly elections could not be held.
PDP leader Khurshid Alam echoed Wani’s sentiments, questioning the rationale for delaying elections when the government claims the situation in J&K has improved significantly. “What justification is there for not holding elections when the government claims the situation has improved, with one crore tourists visiting, and with parliamentary polls and the Amarnath Yatra occurring without incident?” Alam asked, stressing the urgent need to restore democracy in the region.
Congress representatives, including chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma and senior leader Ghulam Nabi Monga, underscored the need for timely elections, citing the lack of representation in J&K for the past decade. They also emphasized the importance of ensuring peaceful and secure elections, particularly for opposition leaders, voters, and party workers.
National Panthers Party Chairman Harsh Dev Singh criticized the BJP for denying constitutional rights to the people of J&K and expressed hope that the Supreme Court’s judgment would lead to timely elections.
Jammu and Kashmir has been under central rule since June 19, 2018, following the collapse of the coalition government led by the PDP. In August 2019, J&K was bifurcated into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
