National Updates: Jammu-Kashmir Assembly Election 2024!
Jammu-Kashmir Assembly Election 2024: The wait for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is about to end and the dates may be announced by August 20. The Election Commission (ECI) team visited Jammu and Kashmir on August 9 and took stock of the election preparations. After this, the Election Commission will hold a meeting with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla today (August 14) and review the security situation. The meeting may discuss finalizing the preparations including the availability of security forces. Since then, it has been speculated that the election schedule may be announced soon. Usually, the election dates are announced 15-20 days after the visit of the Election Commission team. Let us tell you that this will be the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the removal of Section 370 in the year 2019.
Why will the election be announced after August 19?
The Election Commission has indicated to announce the elections anytime this month. There is a possibility that the election can be announced after 19 August. Actually, Amarnath Yatra is going on in Jammu and Kashmir and is ending on 19 August. Tight security arrangements have been made for the Amarnath Yatra and the election can be announced after its completion.
Elections may be held in 6 phases
According to Dainik Bhaskar's report, assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir can be held between October and November. Voting for this will be held in 6 phases. The Election Commission (ECI) can announce the dates of assembly elections between 20 and 25 August.
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years
Let us tell you that assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years. The last assembly elections were held here in the year 2014. After this, on 5 August 2019, the central government abolished Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and divided the state into two parts. The Modi government divided Jammu and Kashmir into Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and made both of them union territories. Since then, elections have not been held in Jammu and Kashmir.
2014 Assembly Election Results
In the 2014 assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) won the maximum number of 28 seats. Whereas, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stood second and captured 25 seats. Apart from this, the National Conference won 15, Congress 12, others 4, and independents 4 seats. After the elections, BJP and PDP formed a coalition government and Mehbooba Mufti became the Chief Minister of the state. But, in 2018, the BJP broke the alliance, after which the Mehbooba Mufti government fell.
SC had given instructions to conduct elections by 30 September
While giving its verdict on the petitions challenging the abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, on 11 December 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to conduct assembly elections by 30 September 2024. Then the Supreme Court had said that Jammu and Kashmir should be given the status of a state soon and elections should be held. However, the Supreme Court had upheld the decision to make Ladakh a Union Territory (UT).
Elections will also be held in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand
Along with Jammu and Kashmir, assembly elections (Vidhan Sabha Chunav 2024) can also be announced in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. The Election Commission team recently visited Haryana apart from Jammu and Kashmir and took stock of the election preparations. The team is yet to visit Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Let us tell you that the term of the Haryana Legislative Assembly is ending on November 3, the term of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is ending on November 26 and the term of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly is ending on January 5. At the same time, the Supreme Court had issued an order in December 2023 to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024.