It will be a short election in Jammu and Kashmir, with just three phases spread over 14 days, almost half the length of the election schedule seen in the erstwhile state in 2014 when it last saw assembly elections or just a few months ago in the Lok Sabha.
Adhering to the Supreme Court deadline of September 30, 2024, for holding elections in J&K was topmost on the mind of the Election Commission of India and hence, the elections were announced the very next day after the Independence Day celebrations were over.
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The elections in J&K will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1, and the results will be declared on October 4. The total election schedule, hence, will be just 14 days for polling, and a total of 17 days if one factors in the counting date too.
In 2014, the elections were held in five phases spread over 26 days while the total schedule was spread over 29 days if one factors in the counting day. Even the recent Lok Sabha elections in J&K were held in five phases over a period of 32 days. Sources said the ECI was insistent on following the SC-mandated deadline of September 30, 2024, and ultimately has gone just one day over the same to conclude the polling in the state on October 1. The mandatory period of four-five weeks for polling to begin after the announcement is adhered to by the ECI.
The short election schedule also shows the confidence that the government and the ECI have in conducting an election within the realm of normalcy prevalent in the state. The areas which have seen terror strikes in the Jammu region — Rajouri, Reasi and Poonch — will poll in the second phase on September 25. The second phase will also see Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal go to polls. Sensitive J&K regions like Shopian, Pulwama and Anantnag will poll in Phase 1, along with Kishtwar and Doda. Nearly 700 companies of forces will be deployed in J&K.
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