The Election Commission of India (ECI) has commenced the procedure for conducting Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by accepting applications for the allocation of common symbols for candidates. This move follows Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumars announcement on Monday that the ECI would initiate the process for holding the Assembly elections very soon.Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections Jaydeb Lahiri, Secretary of the Election Commission of India, conveyed through a press note, The commission has decided to accept applications seeking allotment of the common symbol under Para 10B of election symbols (Reservation & Allotment) order 1968 for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect.Region is governed by LG The previous Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections took place in 2014. Following the withdrawal of support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on June 19, 2018, Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the position of Chief Minister, leading to the imposition of Governors rule, succeeded by Presidents rule in the region. On August 5, 2019, the central government abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A, restructuring the former state of J-K into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Subsequently, the region has been governed by Lieutenant Governors.First Assembly elections after abrogation of Article 370 A Delimitation Commission was established in 2020 to redefine the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. Following the delimitation process, the number of assembly seats in the union territory has increased from 83 to 90, excluding those designated to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This marks the inaugural Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.SC upheld the Centres decisionLast year, the Supreme Court upheld the Centres decision to revoke Article 370, asserting the provisions temporary nature and the constitutionally valid abrogation. The court directed the Election Commission of India to conduct elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, as constituted under Section 14 of the Reorganisation Act, by September 30, 2024. Furthermore, the court emphasized the expeditious restoration of statehood.According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir during the Lok Sabha elections stood at 58.58 percent, with the voter turnout in Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir valley reaching 51.05 percent, the highest in nearly four decades.
