Elections In J&K Likely To Be Held In October-November

The Supreme Court had earlier last month sought a response from the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir administration and Election Commission of India (ECI).

Representative Image (File Photo: Getty)

New Delhi: The elections in Jammu and Kashmir can be held in October-November this year if the poll body completes the preparations in this regard on time, sources said. The Election Commission, sources added, had begun the preparations after delimitation.

The Supreme Court had earlier last month sought a response from the Centre, Jammu and Kashmir administration and Election Commission of India (ECI).

This came on a plea of two Kashmir residents challenging the government’s decision to constitute the delimitation commission for redrawing the assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory.

An apex court bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh had issued notice to the Centre and Election Commission of India in this regard.

The apex court bench sought their responses within six weeks and said that the rejoinder affidavit shall be filed in two weeks thereafter.

The Delimitation Commission on Jammu and Kashmir, headed by Justice (Retd.) Ranjana Desai, had earlier in May submitted its final report.

The three-member Delimitation Commission recommended increasing the number of assembly seats in the Kashmir region to 47 from the previous 46.

The number of seats in the Jammu region has been increased to 43 from the earlier 37. With this, Jammu and Kashmir will now have 90 Assembly constituencies, reported PTI.

The recommendation will increase the total number of seats in the UT from 83 to 90. The 24 seats in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will continue to remain vacant.

It is also for the first time that nine seats have been proposed for Scheduled Tribes by the commission to improve their representation in the assembly.

Since being formed in March 2020, the Delimitation Commission has faced objections from the Opposition parties and some local residents.