Political parties welcome J&K assembly election schedule announcement

Srinagar, Aug 16: All political parties including National Conference, BJP, PDP, Congress, Apni Party, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and CPI(M) have welcomed the announcement of J&K assembly poll schedule by the Election Commission of India (ECI). They have also demanded free and fair elections.

National Conference

National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah while welcoming the assembly polls announcement hoped that ECI ensures level playing field for all the political parties. Talking to media persons he said NC is very much prepared for the elections. Dr Farooq Abdullah stated that the massive reshuffle in the civil and police administration signifies that the administration knew about the announcement beforehand. “ECI should take note and ask the administration about the motives behind these transfers,”he said.

Earlier, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah also welcomed the announcement. Talking to media persons here, he said, “Better late than never. After the 1987-88, this is perhaps the shortest phased assembly election being held in J&K. For the political parties, this is a new experience. But the NC has been preparing for the elections for a long time. We will soon start our election campaign.”

Omar expressed reservations about the transfers and postings made by the administration.“ These transfers have been made to favour the BJP and its ‘A’, ‘B’ or the ‘C’ teams,” he said.

NC Vice President said that the Election Commissioner has laid emphasis on free and fair polls and the commission must review these transfers and if these transfer orders have made any violation of the guidelines, then the commission must put a stop to this practice. “We will also write a detailed letter to the Election Commission,” he said.

BJP

BJP National General Secretary and Incharge J&K Affairs also welcomed the election announcement. Talking to media he said that ECI is an independent and highly respected organisation of the country whose impartiality and efficiency is recognised throughout the world. “We welcome the ECI’s decision and will fight elections in J&K. We have removed the barriers of Article 370 and 35A. We have liberated J&K from the shackles of ‘Do Nisan, Do Pradhan and Do Vidhan’,” he said.

The senior BJP leader stated that with the people’s blessings and under the guidance of Prime Narendra Modi, he is certain that the people of J&K will vote for BJP.

Democratic Progressive Azad Party

Chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party Ghulam Nabi Azad posted on X, “After a long wait of 10 years, we welcome the announcement of elections in J&K. This marks the longest gap since 1949 without assembly elections. I hope they will be free, fair, and fearless. I also urge the government to ensure the security of all party candidates.”

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

PDP has also welcomed the announcement. Iltija Mufti, media advisor said that her party welcomes the announcement. Talking to media persons, she, however, asked why were elections not held on time. “Why did it take so much time. People of Jammu and Kashmir from all sections are suffering,” she said.

Iltija added that her party’s concern is that elections should be conducted free, fair and transparent. Just before the announcement of the election date around 150 to200 transfers happened abruptly and arbitrarily by the LG government. LG administration's behaviour here is full of prejudice, it is full of bias and they favour the BJP. You all know how hostile they have been with the other parties here,”she said.

Apni Party

Senior Apni Party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir has welcomed the poll announcement. “Better late than never. It is a good move. Now the people can elect their own government. Earlier, the people were left on the mercy of bureaucrats. India is known for its great democratic values across the world. The democratic values will get further strengthenedhere with polls,” he told media persons.

CPI (M)

CPI (M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami said that the people of J&K are happy with assembly polls announcement.

"Now that elections have been announced, we welcome it. ECI also assured us of a level playing field and expressed satisfaction over the security situation. All parties including us believed that a vacuum was created in J&K due to no elections for the last 10 years...With the announcement of elections, now there is new hope building in people," Tarigami said.

Congress

Senior J&K Congress leader and AICC General Secretary G A Mir thanked the Election Commission for announcing elections in J&K, adding that the last elections were held here in 2014.

“Supreme Court’s supremacy has been upheld because of the ECI’s announcement,” Mir said.

Peoples Democratic Front

Peoples Democratic Front chairman and former Minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen has welcomed announcement of ECI to hold much awaited elections. He said people were eagerly waiting to elect their public representative and form their own government for last nine years.