Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): In connection with the preparations for the parliamentary elections, the Election Commission of India team on Tuesday March 12 arrived in Kashmir where representatives of the local political parties in Srinagar urged the poll body to conduct peaceful and transparent elections, sources said.
The parties also demanded the commission to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from political parties, the commission also met the local police and civil administration officials and reviewed security and other matters.
Senior National Conference leader Sakina Itoo told ETV Bharat that they demanded the commission to conduct assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir along with parliamentary elections. Apart from Sakina, NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani also met the ECI delegation.
PDP Spokesperson Suhail Bukhari said that he raised the issue of service voters with the commission. He said that the commission should clarify the number of service voters in Jammu and Kashmir.
Apart from Bukhari, the PDP delegation included General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Hanjura and former minister Asia Naqash.
BJP Spokesperson RS Pathania said that they have placed the demands of Kashmiri Pandit Muhajir voters, hassle-free voting and assembly elections before the commission.
It is worth noting that the commission team was led by Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajeev Kumar. His two-day visit will end tomorrow. Other employees of the commission have also come here.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabni Monga too said that he urged the poll body to conduct assembly elections in the UT.
It should be noted that assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, after which PDP and BJP formed a coalition government. However, this government ended on 8 June 2018 when the BJP withdrew support to the PDP.
Since 2018, President's rule has been in force here, while on August 5, 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370, the central government divided the state into two union territories. Since then, the President's representative Lieutenant Governor system has been running the administration here.
