Wraps up 2-day J&K visit
Nobody should be allowed to derail election process: CEC
Srinagar, Aug 9: While the Election Commission wrapped up the two-day visit to the Union Territory, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar Friday said that it was an apt time to conduct polls in Jammu & Kashmir and that nobody should be allowed to derail the election process.
“We are committed to conduct elections at the earliest and believe we will give a befitting reply to those who want to derail the election process. Time has come to realize the dream of the people of J&K, who upheld the ethos of democracy during the Lok Sabha polls,” the CEC, who was flanked by the Election Commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and several others, said.
Calling the election a festival for the people, the CEC said that the way people in the Union Territory participated in the Lok Sabha polls, they believe the assembly election will be an even bigger occasion, adding that nobody should be allowed to derail the election process.
“Time is appropriate to hold polls, but we will go back to Delhi to review the security scenario and keep the Supreme Court deadline in mind. We will review every aspect and inform through a press conference about our decision to hold polls,” he further told the media persons.
Saying that all measures will be in place to hold peaceful and incident-free elections, the CEC said that after the culmination of ongoing Amarnath Yatra, there is a need to review the security situation separately for the assembly polls. “We will take a review once again after flying to Delhi and decide accordingly,” he said.
“Our forces and entire administration is capable enough to deal with any situation that comes in the way,” he said.
Sharing details about the meeting with political parties here, the CEC said that the parties have echoed the similar demands of assembly polls while some among them have demanded a level playing field.
He also said that all the polling stations will be under CCTV coverage based on the request by political parties. “A level playing field will be given to every party and the security of all leaders will be reviewed. No filming of polling stations will be allowed,” he said.
Kumar said that all the rallies that will be conducted will be permitted through an online process. “All DCs and SSPs have been very clearly told to be impartial and unbiased and if anybody is found involved in any kind of biased approach, he will be taken to task,” he said.
