ECI visiting J&K tomorrow to explore possibility of holding J&K assembly elections and review Lok Sabha poll preparations

PTK News Desk

SRINAGAR: The Election Commission of India will be on a two day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, beginning Tuesday to review preparations for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, officials told media.

According to the officials full team of the Commission is scheduled to visit J&K tomorrow and day after, however, some officials may visit the region today itself.

“They will review the preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls during their 2-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, poll preparations, the team will also assess the security situation in the Union Territory,” they said.

Reportedly, the ECI team will also hold meetings with officials and representatives of political parties during their visit.

A local News agency KNS in its report quoting officials says “Possibility of holding assembly elections simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls is also under consideration as top officials of security and intelligence agencies have already held closed door meetings with the ECI regarding possibility of holding simultaneous polls.”

They also said that soon after concluding its J&K, the ECI will announce Lok Sabha poll schedule likely on March 15 during a press conference in New Delhi.

Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held sometime between April and May this year.

Regarding assembly polls in J&K, the Supreme Court while upholding the scrapping of Article 370 in December last year also directed the Centre to hold elections in the Union territory by September this year.