The Supreme Court, while delivering its verdict on Article 370 last year, had ordered that elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly be held before September 30, 2024. The Election Commission of India today announced the schedule for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Election Commissioner visited the state and reviewed the preparations for the assembly elections. The election was announced later.
The political situation in Jammu and Kashmir has been volatile since the abrogation of Article 370. This change is not limited to this, but the change in our strategy by the militants cannot be ignored. The published information reveals many shocking facts about the situation in the region. Holding assembly elections in a region with an increasingly violent environment will be a big challenge.
Data on militant attacks and casualties in the Jammu and Kashmir region since 2014 is available. The death of 371 civilians and 613 security personnel is a grim reminder of the grim reality in the Kashmir Valley. It is indeed unfortunate that 984 innocent lives were lost in the massacre of 1787 terrorists. It is shocking that for every two terrorists, one innocent is killed. In the first seven months of 2024, 28 civilians and soldiers were martyred and 24 militants were killed. We have to accept the fact that we are falling short somewhere in stopping infiltration. On the one hand, it is necessary to keep in mind the reality while trying to take Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
What is the schedule of elections in Jammu and Kashmir?
Elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases. The first phase will be held on September 18, the second phase on September 25 and the third phase on October 1.
Before announcing the dates for the assembly elections in the Union Territory, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want to change their destiny. He said that voters will come in large numbers and the participation of women in the polls will increase. There are 87.9 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir.
After delimitation, there are 90 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, 43 in the Jammu region and 47 in Kashmir. Of these, 74 seats are for general, nine for scheduled caste candidates and seven for scheduled tribes. The number of voters in the Union Territory is 87.09 lakh, of which 44.46 lakh are men and 42.62 lakh are women. The final list of voters will be published on August 20.
The phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir is significant because in the last two decades, due to security reasons, elections have been held continuously in at least four or more phases in the Union Territory. In 2002, elections were held in four phases in September and October. In 2008, elections were held in seven phases in November and December; and in 2014, they were held in five phases. In August 2019, the central government removed the Union Territory of Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, there were 111 seats in the state.
Asked about the decision to hold elections in just three phases, Kumar said it was a conscious decision to keep the process short keeping in mind the experience of the Commission during the Lok Sabha polls.
