ECI Team Arrives in Srinagar for Crucial Talks on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections

Srinagar, August 8: The Election Commission of India (ECI) team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, arrived in Srinagar today for a critical two-day visit aimed at addressing the long-pending assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation includes Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

During their visit, the ECI team will engage with representatives from six major political parties—National Conference, PDP, Congress, BJP, CPI(M), and Panthers Party—at 11 a.m. today to gather their insights and recommendations on conducting the elections.

In the afternoon, the team will convene with Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) from all 20 districts of the Union Territory. Later, they will meet Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole and other election officials to discuss preparations.

On Friday, August 9, the ECI team will consult with Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Secretary Atal Dullo and Director General of Police before traveling to Jammu for discussions with security agencies. A press conference will follow in Jammu to review the outcomes of their meetings.

This visit is significant as it precedes the Supreme Court’s September 30 deadline for scheduling elections in the region. Jammu and Kashmir has been under President’s rule since June 2018, with the last assembly elections held in 2014. Political parties are pressing for the restoration of statehood and the timely conduct of elections.