On a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the possibility of holding Assembly elections in September, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Friday said that no internal or external force can derail the elections in the Union Territory, adding the exact dates for polls would be revealed after a final security assessment is conducted in Delhi.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu on Friday, Kumar said, “No internal or external force, interference, can derail the elections. We are each committed to conducting a review list and we will give a befitting response to destructive forces and you all will participate with zeal, enthusiasm and hope whenever the elections are declared…”
He said we don’t want to see a “chicken and egg” situation in J&K after some terror attacks in the Jammu region.
“Our forces are capable of handling the situation, and we won’t allow these small attempts to disrupt the election process,” said Kumar.
He also said that all the political parties in J&K unanimously praised the people and the Election Commission for conducting peaceful parliamentary elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“…May the journey of democracy continue like this. May the glow of the eyes in long queues remain like this. May every face remain illuminated with hope like this. May the power of the vote continue to defeat the evil intentions of violence like this,” he added.
He said all political parties in J&K are in favour of holding elections early.
“The feedback we received from security heads, administrative officers, and district police chiefs is that while there are a few security challenges, they are ready to ensure peaceful elections in J&K,” added the CEC.
Accompanied by two election commissioners, CEC Kumar reached Jammu on Thursday to assess the situation on the ground. He also met leaders of the all the political parties in J&K.
Kumar said parties demanded that polling booths should within a two-km radius and CCTV facility should be provided at polling stations.
“We have informed them that both these demands have been met, and the necessary instructions have been issued,” he added.
With inputs from agencies
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No internal or external force can derail Assembly elections in J&K, says CEC Rajiv Kumar in Jammu
