Jammu, Aug 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed optimism about the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing the sequence of events that will lead to the restoration of statehood.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event at the University of Jammu, Sinha reiterated that the democratic exercise would soon be conducted, in line with assurances provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“After the visit of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to Jammu and Kashmir, I am hopeful that Assembly elections will be held soon. However, the exact date of the elections is the exclusive prerogative of the Election Commission,” Sinha remarked.
He referenced the August 5, 2019, statement made by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament, where Shah outlined the government’s plan for J&K: “Delimitation first, Assembly elections next, and statehood at an appropriate time.” Sinha added, “Things are moving in that sequence, as announced by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. I hope that the Assembly elections will soon take place in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Sinha also highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Srinagar on International Yoga Day in June, during which Modi assured that elections in J&K would be held soon. “The Prime Minister’s words and the visit of the Full Election Commission to J&K recently are strong indicators that the process is progressing,” Sinha said.
The Full Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, recently concluded a two-day visit to J&K. During this visit, the commission met with political parties, administration officials, and other stakeholders to review preparations for the elections. The Chief Election Commissioner stated that the Election Commission is committed to conducting Assembly elections in J&K at the earliest, adding that a state-level review has been completed.
“The final call for holding Assembly elections in J&K will be taken in Delhi after assessing the security situation and the requirement of forces for the smooth conduct of polls,” CEC Rajiv Kumar noted during a press conference in Jammu. The visit of the Election Commission is seen as a significant step in laying the groundwork for the first Assembly elections in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under central rule since the fall of the PDP-BJP government in 2018, is expected to witness elections after a gap of ten years. The last Assembly elections were held in 2014. According to the Election Commission, J&K has a total of 90 Assembly constituencies, with 87.09 lakh electors, including first-time voters and special categories like PwDs and centenarians.
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024, adding further urgency to the preparations. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are eager for the democratic process to resume, and I am hopeful that the elections will be conducted smoothly and successfully,” Sinha concluded.
