'All political parties batting strongly for holding assembly elections': CEC Rajiv Kumar gives update on poll preparedness in J&K

NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Thursday gave an update on preparedness for holding the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls stating that the election commission is working on it as political parties recognised in the state are "battling strongly" for it.

"We are committed to conducting polls in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest and we will not let any internal or external forces derail the election," Kumar said.

A delegation from the Election Commission, headed by Kumar, is currently on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the readiness of both the administration and security forces for conducting the upcoming elections.

Approximately 11,838 polling stations are planned to be established across Jammu and Kashmir. Each polling station is expected to cater to an average of 735 voters, according to the CEC. He also said that all polling stations will have Assured Minimum Facility (AMF) which will include volunteers and wheelchairs help desks, ramps, washrooms and drinking water facilities.

The election chief also also assured strict vigilance on heroin smuggling and drone dropping across borders. He also promised "strict enforcement over illicit liquor transportation especially through borders in Kathua district".

The commission also decided to provide all CCTV coverage on demands of political parties.

During the second day of their visit on Friday, the EC delegation, which also includes Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu, engaged in discussions with Atal Dullo, the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, and R R Swain, the Union Territory's police chief, according to officials.

Elections for the legislative assembly in Jammu and Kashmir have not taken place since 2014. The previous assembly was dissolved in 2018, and the elections were scheduled to be conducted in the early part of 2019.

However, various factors, including a delimitation exercise that was completed in 2022, prevented the Assembly polls from being conducted after Jammu and Kashmir was divided into Union territories in August 2019.

In December 2022, the Supreme Court instructed the Centre to finalize the election process by September 30, 2024.