Ahead of Assembly poll, DIG reviews security arrangements

Doda, August 30

Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda Range, Shridhar Patil, on Thursday said that they have sufficient security forces to ensure free and fair elections.

Speaking to ANI, Patil said, “Assembly elections are going to take place here after 10 years. We have seen the excitement of the people...I have come here to review the security arrangements....we are already ahead of time, preparations are underway very well...everything is going as per plan. We have sufficient security forces...”

On August 26, the district election authority of Doda successfully dispatched 800 electronic voting machines (EVMs) to three different strongrooms in Doda under tight security for the first phase of the Assembly elections. The first phase of poll will be held on September 18.

District Election Officer (DEO) of Doda, Harvinder Singh, confirmed that all EVMs have been sent to their respective constituencies, ensuring that the upcoming first phase will be conducted in a free and fair manner.

Singh emphasised the commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process with all necessary precautions in place for a smooth and transparent election.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1, with the counting of votes taking place on October 4.

Voting will be held for 90 Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the Election Commission, the Union Territory has 88.06 lakh electors.

Meanwhile, the National Conference will contest 51 of the 90 seats and Congress 32, according to the seat-sharing pact reached by the two parties.

The two parties will also have a “friendly contest” on five seats and have one seat each for the CPM and the Panthers Party.