Election Commission Initiates Assembly Election Process in Jammu and Kashmir

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th June. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially begun the process for holding Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

Jaydeb Lahiri, Secretary of the Election Commission of India, announced through a press note, “The commission has decided to accept applications seeking allotment of common symbol under Para 10B of election symbols (Reservation & Allotment) order 1968 for the General Election to the legislative Assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect.”

This move follows a statement from Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, who assured that the people of J&K would soon have their democratically-elected government in place. The last Assembly election in J&K was held in 2014, resulting in a coalition government formed by the BJP and the PDP, led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. After his death in 2016, his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, took over the coalition leadership.

The coalition government dissolved on June 18, 2019, when the BJP withdrew its support, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to resign as Chief Minister. This led to the imposition of Governor’s Rule, followed by President’s Rule. On August 5, 2019, J&K was reconstituted as a Union Territory following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. Since then, the Union Territory has been governed by a Lieutenant Governor.

The initiation of the election process marks a significant step towards restoring a democratically-elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, a move anticipated by many residents and political stakeholders in the region.