Kashmir: Senior leaders from various political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the National Conference (NC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), converged on Thursday to press the Election Commission of India (ECI) for holding timely elections in the region, which has been without an elected government for nearly a decade.
During the meeting, NC’s senior leader Nasir Aslam Wani emphasized the widespread demand among the people of J&K for an elected government. Wani expressed his concerns to the ECI, urging them to move beyond mere formalities. “We conveyed to the Commission that the time for superficial gestures is over. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are yearning for governance by their elected representatives. It’s been ten long years without an elected government, and this has led to numerous challenges, from developmental issues to security concerns. The ECI assured us that elections would be conducted in a timely manner,” Wani stated.
On the other hand, BJP leader Surinder Ambardar highlighted his party’s readiness for elections, reiterating their position since the last Lok Sabha polls. “We had made it clear during the Lok Sabha elections that the BJP was ready for polls. Our stance remains unchanged. We spent around half-an-hour with the Commission today, underlining our preparedness for elections whenever the dates are announced,” Ambardar noted.
The Bahujan Samaj Party’s senior leader, Sunil Bajrouta, addressed the ECI with a focus on the security concerns faced by party leaders. Bajrouta revealed that the ECI assured him that these issues would be prioritized. “We discussed critical security concerns, and the Commission provided full assurance that our issues will be addressed on priority. We are also confident that the elections will be held as scheduled,” Bajrouta shared.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga echoed the sentiment of urgency, stressing the frustration among J&K’s populace over the prolonged absence of an elected government. “The people of J&K are growing increasingly frustrated. We urged the ECI to hold elections without further delay. Additionally, we demanded equal treatment for all political parties. Though the Commission did not commit to a specific date, we made it clear that the situation is already overdue,” Monga remarked.
The delegations collectively underscored the need for the ECI to uphold democratic principles in J&K by ensuring that the electoral process is conducted fairly and expeditiously. Despite the ECI’s reassurances, the political climate in J&K remains tense as parties continue to push for the restoration of electoral democracy in the region.