“Bring It On, We Are Ready": Omar Abdullah On Election Dates
As the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections, National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wasted no time expressing his readiness for the electoral battle. Abdullah took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted, “The indelible ink mark from the recent elections hasn’t gone & we are back in election mode. Bring it on! We are ready!”
The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are set to be held in three phases, beginning on September 18. The second phase will occur on September 25, followed by the final phase on October 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4, according to the ECI’s announcement on Friday.
The indelible ink mark from the recent elections hasn’t gone & we are back in election mode. Bring it on! We are ready! pic.twitter.com/zqcDyiCTSs
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 16, 2024
This will be the first assembly election since Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganization in 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370, which stripped the region of its special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The region has been without an elected government since 2018, and the upcoming elections are seen as a significant step towards restoring democratic governance.
The ECI’s decision to hold the elections in three phases comes after a detailed assessment of the region’s election readiness. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during a press conference, noted the enthusiasm among voters during the commission’s recent visit to the region. He highlighted that voter turnout in the recent Lok Sabha elections saw a remarkable 30-point increase in participation.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the ECI to ensure elections were conducted by September 30, as the region had been under central administration since 2018. The court’s directive came while hearing petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and emphasized the need for a democratically elected government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Srinagar last month, had also assured that elections would be held soon and that statehood would eventually be reinstated.
Omar Abdullah, while welcoming the election dates, expressed concerns over the recent reshuffling of senior police officers in the region. “After 1987-88, this is probably the first time an election is happening in phases… it will be a new experience. For National Conference, I can say we have been preparing,” Abdullah said, adding that his party is ready to face the elections with full strength.
However, he questioned the timing of the police transfers, stating, “The EC emphasized free and fair polls… we wrote to the poll body on police transfers in the past 24 hours. They should take notice. We fear this was done to benefit the center and the BJP.”
The elections will be conducted across all 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir, with over 87 lakh eligible voters. The final electoral roll is expected to be published on August 20, following the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra. The CEC has assured that voters will be able to cast their ballots in an atmosphere free of fear or intimidation, reinforcing the commission’s commitment to fair and timely elections.
The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not just a test of political strength but also a crucial step towards restoring the region’s democratic institutions. With the announcement of the dates, the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness intense campaigning and public mobilization in the coming weeks.
