ECI initiates process for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially commenced the process of organizing Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a press statement from Jaydeb Lahiri, Secretary of the ECI, “The commission has decided to accept applications seeking allotment of the common symbol under Para 10B of election symbols (Reservation & Allotment) order 1968 for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect.”

This development follows a statement by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, who mentioned that the people of J&K would soon have their democratically elected government in the Union Territory.

The last Assembly election in J&K was held in 2014, resulting in a coalition government formed by the BJP and the PDP, led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. After Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death in 2016, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti took over as the head of the coalition. The coalition ended on June 18, 2019, when the BJP withdrew its support, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to resign as Chief Minister.

In December last year, the Supreme Court had directed the poll body to hold Assembly polls in the UT by September 30, 2024.

In March, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that the Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir will be held after the Lok Sabha polls as organising both simultaneously is not viable from the security point of view.

Recently, after the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections in J&K, the Elections Commission extended special thanks to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their faith in the electoral process. CEC Kumar also said the Assembly elections in J&K will be held soon. “Voter turnout in the state is the highest in the last four decades,” he said.