Election Commission announces assembly election dates for J&K, Haryana
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that elections in J&K will be held in three phases: The first phase will be on September 18, the second phase on 25, and the third phase on October 1. Haryana will go to polls on October 1. The counting of votes for both J&K and Haryana will be on October 4.
People in J&K want to be part of change: Kumar
During the announcement, Kumar praised the manner in which the Lok Sabha election was held in J&K, calling it a triumph of "ballot over bullet." Kumar emphasized that the election saw a record turnout of 58.58%. This record, he stated, demonstrated that people desired not only change but also to be a part of it. "They weren't just long queues, they represented the hopes of the people and their desire to write a new future for themselves," he stated.
Total of 20,629 polling stations in Haryana
For Haryana, he said a total of 20,629 polling stations—including 7,132 urban and 13,497 rural—will be set up for over two crore voters. The Haryana assembly has 90 seats, including 73 general and 17 Scheduled Castes (SC) seats. As many as 10,321 centenarian voters will participate in the democratic process, he stated. J&K has 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 74 are general and 16 reserved (ST-9, SC-7).
Announcement to detail dates for electoral process stages
The ECI had initiated preparations for these elections back in June by updating the electoral rolls. The terms of the current legislative assembly in Haryana will end on November 3. Hence, elections must be conducted before the terms expire. In J&K's case, the ECI had previously stated that Assembly elections in the UT will be conducted following the delimitation of constituencies.
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls to follow delimitation
J&K has been under central rule since June 19, 2018, following the collapse of a coalition government headed by the People's Democratic Party after alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew support for the coalition government. In December last year, the Supreme Court had directed the ECI to hold elections by September 30.
