Jammu & Kashmir,August 16, 2024
The dates for the following assembly elections in Haryana and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir were recently officially declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The declaration, which was declared at a press conference chaired by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu in addition to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, sets the scene for major contests in these regions.
Election schedule and important dates
The election date for Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir was recently announced through the ECI: – Jammu & Kashmir: Here will be three phases before the surveys.
The dates for voting are October 1, September 25, and September 18. On October 4, the election results will be published.
Haryana: On October 1, the state is going to have a single-phase election that falls on the exact same day as Jammu & Kashmir’s third phase of voting. October 4 occurs when the results are going to be published and the votes tabulated.
Context and Interpretation
Regarding which countries would be included in this declaration, speculation has been wild. Notwithstanding the fact that the state legislative bodies in Maharashtra and Jharkhand are both nearing the end of their tenure, the ECI opted not to declare elections for these states just yet. The Election Commission’s recent focus on vote preparations in Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, while Maharashtra was not given the identical order of importance, sparked debate about this choice.
Source:The economic Times
For the purpose of dealing with worries raised by heavy rainfall and approaching festivals in Maharashtra, CEC Rajiv Kumar explained the circumstances by saying that the decision to stagger voting was driven by the need to deploy security personnel efficiently.
Because there are multiple elections approaching, the ECI has decided to take a more gradual approach than it did the last time Maharashtra and Haryana ran for office simultaneously. Jammu and Kashmir was not a factor in those polls.
Assemblyman Balance and Voter Participation
Jammu and Kashmir: Voters in the Union Territory will pick representatives for 90 assembly seats, which include 74 general seats and 16 seats designated apart for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. An official election with 87 lakh eligible voters will be held on August 20.
Additionally, there will be 99 state legislative seats up for election, including 73 ordinary seats and 17 seats alloc weekated apart for Scheduled Castes.
The ECI expressed an aspiration for voter involvement in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the population has demonstrated an increase in excitement in contrast to the region’s history of reservations towards elections. That point of view corresponds with the high turnout in the Valley during the Lok Sabha elections, which showed an important increase in participation in voting.
Political Reactions and Preparations
Political parties are currently responding to the announcement with vitriol. Aaditya Thackeray, the head of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra, voiced dissatisfaction with the ECI’s decision to delay simultaneous polls, citing security force limitations as its primary justification. He charged that by postponing the Maharashtra surveys, the ECI had damaged its authority.
Source:Hindustan Times
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, political engagement is growing, with the BJP establishing a poll committee and professing to be planning for the surveys. Omar Abdullah, the leader of the National Conference, anticipated that the ECI would implement the Supreme Court’s orders and ensure that presidential elections were held in a timely manner throughout the region.
Using Technology for Fair and Honest Elections
The ECI underlined its ongoing dedication to using technology for the sake of free and fair elections. The Vigil app enables voters to report voting deviations, whereas the KYC app lets people learn more about their candidates. The Suvidha Portal is a different asset candidates can utilise for an array of electoral services.
Conclusion
Now that the official election timetable has been completed, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana are preparing for intensive campaigns. In addition to working as a gauge of political prowess, the next elections will be critical to the democratic processes in these parts. As the election dates approach, all eyes will be on the Election Commission’s efforts to organise free and fair elections that accurately reflect the public’s voice.
