New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sandhu, announced the dates for the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir in a press conference today. While the schedule for the assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand is expected to be released later, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is actively preparing for elections across these key states.
The poll panel’s announcement follows recent visits to Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana to assess and review the preparations for the 2024 assembly elections. The ECI has yet to conduct similar visits to Maharashtra, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Jharkhand, governed by Hemant Soren. The terms of the legislative assemblies of Haryana and Maharashtra are set to end in November, typically resulting in simultaneous elections for both states. Jharkhand’s legislative assembly term, on the other hand, will conclude in January 2025.
Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under Central rule since June 19, 2018, after the collapse of the coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is also due for assembly elections. The Supreme Court has set a September 30, 2024, deadline for holding the polls in the Union Territory.
Providing details about Jammu and Kashmir’s electoral landscape, CEC Rajiv Kumar shared that the region comprises a total of 90 assembly constituencies, with 74 being general constituencies, 7 reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), and 9 for Scheduled Tribes (ST). The voter base in Jammu and Kashmir includes 87.09 lakh registered voters, with 44.46 lakh males, 42.62 lakh females, 3.71 lakh first-time voters, and 20.7 lakh young voters.
“The Amarnath Yatra will conclude on August 19, and the final voter list will be published on August 20,” CEC Kumar stated, emphasizing the ECI’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and fair electoral process in the region.
As the poll dates draw closer, the Election Commission is expected to intensify its efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency in the electoral process across all states. The forthcoming elections are anticipated to be a significant political event, shaping the future governance of these states.