Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Oct 9: The Election Commission of India on Monday said that a decision on J&K elections will be taken at the “right time” after taking into account the security situation and other elections which are also due in the Union Territory.
Addressing a news conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that decision on J&K elections would be taken at the “right time” after taking into consideration security situation and other elections which are also due in the UT.
Last month, the Government of India had informed the Supreme Court that Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir will be held after Municipal and Panchayat polls.
Jammu & Kashmir has been without an elected government since June 19, 2018 after Bharatiya Janta Party withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government, citing “deteriorating security situation” in the erstwhile state. After a year of Central rule, the Parliament enacted The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, dividing the state into two Union Territories administered by Lieutenant Governors.
After reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir, the Government of India constituted a three-member panel in March 2020 to undertake delimitation of Assembly and Parliament segments of J&K.
In May 2022, the delimitation commission unveiled a new electoral map of Jammu & Kashmir. Subsequently, the Election Commission of India ordered revision of electoral rolls. The voter revision exercise was completed on November 25, 2022.
