Election Commission Officially Starts Assembly Polls Exercise In J&K

Election Commission Officially Starts Assembly Polls Exercise In J&K

Keywords: Jammu and Kashmir, Assembly elections, Election Commission of India, Electoral process

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially launched the assembly elections process in Jammu and Kashmir. The state has been under President’s rule since June 2018, following the collapse of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) coalition government.

The ECI has announced that the elections will be held in five phases, starting from November 25 and ending on December 20. The votes will be counted on December 22.

The ECI has issued a notification stating that the last date for filing nominations is November 12, while the scrutiny of nominations will take place on November 13. The candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 16.

The ECI has also announced that it will deploy 45,000 security personnel for the elections. The security forces will be responsible for maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of voters.

The ECI has appealed to the voters to come out and participate in the electoral process. The ECI has also urged political parties to abide by the Model Code of Conduct and ensure that the elections are held in a fair and peaceful manner.

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being seen as a crucial test for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. The BJP has been facing criticism for its handling of the situation in the state, including its decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The elections will also be a test for the opposition parties, which are hoping to capitalize on the growing discontent among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The main opposition parties in the state include the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Congress.