Srinagar, January 02 (KNO) : Following the union home minister, Rajnath Singh’s statement regarding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the election preparedness in the State are in full swing while as the political parties have also braced up for the polls.
Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President's rule due to the untimely fall of the erstwhile PDP-BJP government. The State was also under Governor's Rule for six months from June 20, 2018 to December 19, 2018.
According to Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the political parties have been demanding early elections in the State, saying that the people have every right to get elected representatives in Jammu and Kashmir. The election preparedness are in full swing with Governor Satya Pal Malik and Chief Election Officer (CEO) Shailendra Kumar.
Sources informed KNO that the duo discussed the various issues including parliamentary and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir would likely be held after parliamentary elections. However, there was no official confirmation in this regard.
The Governor during the meeting has also expressed satisfaction on the recent conduct of polls to Panchayatas and Urban Local Bodies and hoped that people will participate with same enthusiasm in every electoral exercise.
Moreover, the Chief Electoral Officer Shailender Kumar has reportedly said that the meeting with Election Commission of India (ECI) in connection with conduct of assembly elections is scheduled to be held after second week of January, saying that state election department would be ready to hold assembly elections without any difficulties in Jammu and Kashmir state in case the election commission decides to conduct assembly elections even before the Lok Sabha elections.
Sources said that the number of meetings were held in Jammu regarding the elections in Jammu and Kashmir but the dates for the elections have not been decided so far. They also informed that the elections in the State will be held soon.
Notably, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Northern Army Commander also called on Governor and briefed him about the prevailing security situation along the forward areas and the hinterland, operational preparedness of the Army for anti-insurgency and measures being taken for ensuring safety and security of people living along the LoC and IB.
Besides, the political parties have also geared up for the polls by convening number of meetings with their party workers, discussing the strategy to strengthen the respective parties at grass-root levels.
The parties including National Conference (NC) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Peoples Conference and others have braced up to gain the public support on ground by organizing conventions and meetings at different places.(KNO)