Srinagar, August 8 – The Election Commission of India (ECI), headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, arrived in Srinagar today for a critical two-day visit aimed at addressing the long-overdue assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Accompanying Kumar are Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The ECI team is set to engage in a series of important meetings starting with representatives from six major political parties, including the National Conference, PDP, Congress, BJP, CPI(M), and Panthers Party, later this morning. The discussions will focus on gathering their perspectives and recommendations regarding the election process.
In the afternoon, the team will hold consultations with Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) from across the 20 districts of the Union Territory. Following this, they will convene with Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole and other key election officials.
On Friday, August 9, the ECI delegation will meet with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dullo and the Director General of Police. They are also scheduled to visit Jammu to confer with security agencies and discuss logistical arrangements.
A press conference will be conducted in Jammu to summarize the outcomes of the meetings and outline the next steps.
This visit is significant as it precedes the Supreme Court’s September 30 deadline for holding the elections. With Jammu and Kashmir last conducting assembly elections in 2014 and under President’s rule since June 2018, there is mounting pressure from political entities for both the restoration of statehood and the prompt scheduling of elections.
