Srinagar: The Election Commission of India arrives in Srinagar tomorrow for two day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the ground situation and assess the state’s preparedness for Lok Sabha polls in summer this year.
The ECI, expected to arrive at Srinagar Airport at 11:45 a.m., is also likely to take a call on whether elections to 87-member assembly can be held in tandem with Lok Sabha elections.
The ECI headed by Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora, will hold a meeting with seven national and three regional parties at Hotel Grand Lalit from 12:30 P.M. to 2:15 P.M.
After the lunch, the poll panel is scheduled to hold a meeting with DEOs, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Ladakh, 12 Deputy Commissioners, IGP Kashmir and SSPs to take an overall review. The election panel, according to the tour itinerary would leave for Jammu in state plane around 7:30 P.M.
The Chief Electoral Officer would make a presentation before the poll panel from 8:30 to 9:30 P.M. On March 5, the poll panel will have meeting with political parties (7 national and 3 state parties) at Radisson Blue Jammu from 9:30 A.M. to 11:15 A.M.
At 11: 30 A.M, the poll body will have a meeting with DEOs, SSPs Divisional Commissioner Jammu and 10 DCs and the meeting is expected to last till 2:15 P.M.
At 4 P.M, the poll body will have a detailed half an hour meeting with Chief Secretary and Director General of Police and will address a presser from 5:15 P.M. to 5:45 P.M. before departure to New Delhi via state plane at 7:30 P.M.
The state has been under President’s Rule since 20 December last year and before that, for six months, it was under Governor’s Rule after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in June parted ties with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Mehbooba Mufti.
The rules demand elections have to be held within six months of imposition of President’s rule and equation changed after the February 14 attack in Pulwama, killing 49 CRPF personnel.
