ECI initiates preparations for Assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand

Srinagar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered special summary revision of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir and three other states of the country where Assembly elections are being held later this year.

The last Assembly elections in the erstwhile state of J&K were held in 2014. The state was brought under Governor’s rule following the PDP-BJP coalition government collapsed in June 2018. J&K was split into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in August 2019 when its special status envisaged in Article 370 was also withdrawn by the Centre.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking at an event in Srinagar on Thursday said that the preparation for holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir have begun and that its statehood too will be restored soon.

The ECI has in a communique to J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer said, “It is to state that the election to the legislative assembly in your state is due to be held later this year and section 21(2) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1950 provides that the electoral shall be revised with reference to the qualifying date before each general election to the Legislative Assembly of a state.”

It adds, “Accordingly, to maximize the registration of all eligible citizens, who are attaining the age of 18 years on or before Ist July 2024 and with the purpose of improving health of the electoral roll, the Commission has decided to carry out second summary revision of photo electoral rolls w.r.t 01.07. 2024 as the qualifying date in your state. “

The letter has also been sent to CEOs of Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand where polls are scheduled later this year.

As per the ECI communique, the revision exercise would start on July 25 and culminate on August 20. Before the revision exercise, the ECI would carry out pre-revision activities in J&K and three states from June 25 to July 24.