SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday welcomed the announcement of assembly elections schedule by the Election Commission in the Union Territory – the first since the abrogation of Article 370.
Addressing a press conference, Abdullah said that his party – National Conference – will begin its campaign for the upcoming assembly polls soon. “Der aaye durust aaye. The Election Commission has announced the dates of the elections in three phases. The schedule will be over in a short time. After 1987-1988, this is the first time when the elections in J&K are being conducted in such a small number of phases. The National Conference was ready for this day. We will begin our election campaign soon,” Abdullah said.
#WATCH | On Assembly poll in J&K to be held on Sept 18, 25 & October 1; Counting of votes on Oct 4, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah says, “…’Der aaye durust aaye’. The Election Commission has announced the dates of the elections in three phases. The schedule will be… pic.twitter.com/nDCZgloxoJ
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2024
The National Conference leader also called on the Election Commission to take notice of concerns over the reshuffle of senior police officers and chiefs before polling. “We are writing to the Election Commission of India that they should investigate the transfers that happened in J&K in the last 24 hours. Several officers were transferred suddenly, we doubt these transfers have been made to benefit the B and C teams of the BJP by the LG, which has been put here by the BJP. In the last 1-2 years, the security of some leaders has been reduced and withdrawn. We request the ECI to give orders and ensure that their security is restored,” he added.
The reaction from the NC leader came shortly after the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar announced that polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases from September 18 to October 1.
CEC Kumar further stated that the assembly elections for Haryana will be held in a single phase on October 1 and the
Congress Welcomes Announcement Of Polls Dates
Besides NC, Congress also welcomed the announcement of the elections and said that the first step has been taken. “I welcome this. Even though it is late, at least a step has been taken. Today is a happy day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. After the formation of the House, we will continue our fight to restore statehood. People have to vote carefully and vote for those who will fight for statehood,” Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X and said that the Congress has been consistently demanding that full statehood should be restored to J-K and assembly elections. “For the past five years, the Indian National Congress has been consistently demanding that full statehood should be restored to J-K and that assembly elections should be conducted. J&K still awaits full statehood. Recent moves by the Union Government have only added to the powers of the LG there, making a mockery of the powers of a duly elected state government,” Jairam Ramesh posted on X.
Ready For Polls In Haryana: AAP
Reacting to the poll body’s announcement, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said that the AAP party is completely ready for the Assembly polls in Haryana. “We are continuously holding public rallies and addressing and a large number of people are attending them…Arvind Kejriwal is the son of Haryana, so the people of Haryana have an emotional attachment to him…AAP will strongly contest the elections in Haryana and will win it…Whether there will be an alliance or not, will be decided after Arvind Kejriwal comes out of jail…we are planning everything for the polls in the state….We are happy that after 10 years (Assembly) elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir,” Atishi said.
#WATCH | On the announcement of dates for the Assembly polls in J&K and Haryana, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi says, “AAP party is completely ready for the Assembly polls in Haryana…We are continuously holding public rallies and addressing and a large number of people… pic.twitter.com/WP1zR6jqQk
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2024
3-Phase Assembly Elections In J&K
As per the announcement by the Election Commission, the voters in Jammu and Kashmir will cast their votes on September 18, and September 25, and the third phase will take place on October 1, along with Haryana.
The counting of the votes will take place on October 4 for both states (Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir), announced Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, of which 74 are General, nine are ST and seven are SC.
In Jammu and Kashmir, there are 87.09 lakh total electors. Of which 44.46 lakh are male, 42.62 female, 169 are Transgender, 82,590 PwDs, 73943 very senior citizens, 2660 centenarians, 76092 service electors, and 3.71 lakh are first-time voters.
In December of last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024. Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years as the last assembly election was held in 2014. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.
ALSO READ: Muhammad Yunus Dials PM Modi, Assures ‘Safety Of Hindus, Minorities’ In Bangladesh
