'Decision to be taken at right time...': CEC Rajiv Kumar on elections in J&K

Shortly after he announced Assembly poll dates for five states including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday cleared the air on elections in Jammu and Kashmir saying that the polls in the Union Territory will be held at the right time depending on the security situation prevailing there.

#WATCH | On being asked about the election in Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says, “The decision to be taken at the right time as per the security situation and other simultaneous elections in the state.” pic.twitter.com/7TkzWfKNyw

— ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023

Addressing a press conference to announce the poll dates for five states on Monday, Kumar said, “The decision to be taken at the right time as per the security situation (in J&K) and other simultaneous elections in the state.”

The Union government in August had informed the Supreme Court that it was ready to conduct elections at any time in Jammu and Kashmir.

Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed the court that the process of updating the voter list is substantially over.

The solicitor general submitted that “terrorist initiated instances” have reduced by 45.2 per cent and infiltration by 90.2 per cent when comparing the situation in 2018 with that of 2023.

He also underlined that incidents like stone pelting have reduced by 97.2 per cent and casualties among security forces by 65.9 per cent, adding that the agencies would take these factors into consideration before taking any decision regarding election in the Union Territory.

With inputs from agencies