The Election Commission on Tuesday announced that the assembly polls 2024 will be held in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir. The first phase voting will be conducted on 20th August, second phase on 29th August and third phase on 5th September.
Jammu and Kashmir has 87.09 lakh voters, including 42.6 lakh women, across 90 constituencies, the election panel said.
Elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir after a long time, CEC Rajiv Kumar said and added, “Will ensure due security for all candidates in Jammu and Kashmir as requested by political parties there”
According to the timeline shared by the poll body, a gazette notification will be issued on September 9. Nominations must be submitted by September 12 with the next day allocated as the final date for scrutiny of nominations. The polls will be held on October 1 (Tuesday) with votes being counted in the same week on Friday
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for assembly elections on Friday 3 pm.
Last assembly election was held in 2014
In December last year, the Supreme Court directed the central government to conclude the election process in Union territory 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 for the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti. Recently, a poll body delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar reviewed the poll preparations in J&K. During a press conference in Jammu during the visit, Kumar emphasised that the commission is committed to holding elections there “at the earliest.”.
The election commission is likely to announce the schedule for the assembly elections to the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly later.
Earlier in the day, National Conference (JKNC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Thursday stressed the need for early assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “We don’t know that for sure (if dates will be announced for J&K). That’s speculation. We hope that they are announcing dates for J&K. But in the past, we have also expected an announcement and one hasn’t been forthcoming. J&K has been without an elected assembly since 2018.
