Election Commission officials are set to embark on a critical journey to Jammu & Kashmir next week, with an aim to meticulously scrutinise the imminent Lok Sabha election preparations. As conveyed by officials on a recent Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will grace the region with his presence on March 12 and 13. According to the agency, the officials are likely to engage in significant discussions with various stakeholders, including political parties, administration, and police representatives. Chief Secretary Arun Mehta met with administrative and police forces last Saturday to enlighten them about measures necessary for seamless execution of the parliamentary election in the Union Territory.
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Free and Fair Elections are Imperative
A spokesperson emphasized that Chief Secretary Arun Mehta insisted that the administration's goal is to ensure a free and fair election with widespread public participation. Mehta urged the divisional and district administrations to take all necessary measures to guarantee that citizens face no hindrances in exercising their democratic rights.
The spokesperson mentioned that Chief Secretary raised department-wise issues and inquired the respective officials about the measures taken in compliance with ECI's directives. He advised them to make the most of the pre-election period to implement these directives on the ground. During the meeting, Chief Electoral Officer Hirdesh Kumar shared insights into the initiatives by various departments.
ECI's Anticipated Tour
It was reported that along with appointing campus ambassadors in colleges and universities, an election literacy campaign will be rolled out in educational institutions in the upcoming days. Hirdesh Kumar stated that each polling station should have amenities like toilets, ramps, electricity, drinking water, and furniture in line with ECI's guidelines.
In the presentation, it was announced that discussions also took place regarding the transportation of election machinery and personnel across the Union Territory during elections, in addition to connectivity issues on polling centers and access roads.
