“State election deptt fully prepared to hold elections”
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shailender Kumar on Sunday said that meeting with the election commission of India in connection with conduct of assembly elections is scheduled to be held after second week of January and if election commission decides to hold assembly elections even before the Lok Sabha elections, the state election department would be ready to hold assembly elections without any difficulties in Jammu and Kashmir state.
Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) Chief Electoral Officer Shailender Kumar said, “The meeting with the election commission of India for discussion on holding assembly elections will likely be held after second week of January and Jammu and Kashmir election department is ready to hold assembly elections anytime and even before Lok Sabha elections.”
Saying that the Jammu and Kashmir government has already constituted two teams under the chairmanship of the divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu divisions, the chief electoral officer said, “prior to the meeting with election commission of India, we will hold a meeting with the divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to take a brief from them on the security requirements and other arrangements to be put in place for the holding of assembly elections in the state.”
Ruling out that biting cold in winter could be a difficulty in holding elections in the remote areas like Leh, Kargil, Machil, Keran and other hilly areas, the chief electoral officer said, “If people don’t face any difficulty in carrying out their normal activity then what would stop them from coming out to polling stations and cast their votes. Absolutely we won’t face any difficulty even if the elevations are held in February.”
