During these meetings, party leaders emphasized the urgency of holding the elections and ensuring a fair process. National Conference leader Nasir Aslam Wani urged the EC to take concrete steps and provide a level playing field. “The people of J&K are eager for their own government. We have requested the EC to ensure impartiality in the process,” Wani stated.
Since the BJP’s withdrawal of support from the PDP-led coalition in June 2018, the region has been under President’s Rule, with the state assembly dissolved. Following the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 and the subsequent bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories, J&K now has a legislative assembly while Ladakh does not.
In December 2022, the Supreme Court upheld the revocation of Article 370 but mandated that elections for the 90-member J&K assembly be held by September 30, 2024, and urged the restoration of statehood. The 2022 delimitation commission redrew the electoral map, increasing the assembly seats from 83 to 90, with 43 allocated to Jammu and 47 to Kashmir. The opposition has criticized this move, alleging it benefits the BJP, a claim the BJP denies.
PDP leader Khursheed Alam stressed the need for immediate elections, citing successful and peaceful events like the Amarnath pilgrimage and the recent Lok Sabha polls, which saw a 58.46% voter turnout—the highest in 35 years. “The absence of an elected government is affecting the people. We emphasized this to the EC,” Alam said.
The heightened political activity is coupled with rising terror attacks in Jammu, prompting concerns about security. Congress vice-president Ghulam Nabi Monga and former BJP legislator Surinder Ambardar both called for the EC to address security and administrative issues to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Following the meetings with political leaders, the EC team also consulted with deputy police commissioners and senior superintendents of police from all 20 districts about the security situation. On Friday, the delegation will meet with J&K Chief Secretary Atul Duloo and Director General of Police RR Swain to finalize the election schedule. The visit will conclude on August 10 in Jammu with a review meeting with enforcement agencies and a press briefing.
