With the Supreme Court’s deadline for holding Assembly polls fast approaching, the Election Commission (EC) conducted a series of meetings in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to gather feedback on the feasibility and timing of elections. The meetings, which took place at the International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, saw participation from representatives of various political parties as well as district heads of the civil administration and police.

The EC team, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, included election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu. The team met with representatives from all major political parties in the region, including the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party (JKPP).

During these consultations, the dominant demand from political leaders was the immediate holding of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Party representatives expressed concerns about the extended delay in restoring the democratic process in the Union Territory, which has been without a legislative assembly since 2018.

Farooq Abdullah, leader of the National Conference, emphasized the need for early elections to address the pressing issues facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The absence of an elected government has created a vacuum that is being felt by the people. We urge the Election Commission to expedite the process of holding Assembly elections,” Abdullah said.

Similarly, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti reiterated the call for elections, stating that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eager to have their voices heard through their elected representatives. “It’s time for democracy to be restored. The people have waited long enough,” Mufti remarked.

The BJP, while also supporting the call for elections, emphasized the need for adequate security arrangements to ensure a peaceful electoral process. Ravinder Raina, the BJP’s state president, stressed that the safety and security of voters and candidates must be the top priority.

The Congress party echoed the sentiments of other parties, with its representative highlighting the importance of an elected government in addressing the region’s developmental needs.

The EC’s meetings with political parties and local administration officials are seen as a crucial step towards holding the long-awaited Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The region has been without an elected government since June 2018, when the BJP withdrew support from the coalition government led by the PDP, leading to the imposition of Governor’s rule.

While the Election Commission has not yet announced a specific timeline for the elections, the discussions on Thursday indicate a growing momentum towards the restoration of the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir.