Time has come to give people of J&K elected govt: CEC in Jammu

The CEC, who was accompanied by election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu, did not share a timeline within which the electoral process will be completed.

“The state level review has been completed and the Amarnath yatra is also going to conclude on August 19,” he said, adding that “on our return to Delhi, we will have an assessment of the security situation and the availability of forces before announcing the election schedule”.

Replying to a question about the Supreme Court’s September 30 deadline for holding assembly polls in the Union Territory, he said, “We will keep this in mind before taking a decision on the matter.” The publication of final electoral rolls will be done on August 20, he said.

Appreciating the large-scale public participation in the Lok Sabha polls, he said the world had appreciated the enthusiasm of the people of J&K. “The ray of hope and light seen in your eyes during the electoral process has filled everybody with joy,” he said, adding that the people managed to achieve what had not been done for decades.

“You have chosen democracy, peace and harmony,” he said, particularly referring to the participation of women and youth in the general elections.

“The challenge before us now is to exceed the standards established by you, be it in terms of poll percentage or participation by the number of candidates,” he said. “We have to now raise a strong building on the foundation you have laid.”

He said that “no internal or external power can derail the election process”, and that “we are committed to holding the elections at the earliest”.

He said the Election Commission was sure that the people of J&K will give a befitting response to disruptive forces by participating in the polls whenever they are held.

Nine political parties met the Election Commission in Srinagar on Thursday, and each pushed for holding assembly polls as soon as possible. He said they also pushed for a level playing field.

On Friday, the Commission reviewed the situation and poll preparedness with the UT Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Director General of Police R R Swain.

He said that the Commission has instructed the authorities to set up a polling booth every 2 kilometres for the ease of the electorate. Each polling station will have CCTV coverage.

Asked about the spurt in terror attacks in Jammu region, he said that security forces and the administration were capable of dealing with the situation. “We will not allow the democratic process to get derailed,” he said.