Jammu, Mar 13: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar Wednesday said that all security agencies in J&K (even across the country) were “capable, motivated and determined” to tackle any challenge posed by external forces to disrupt electoral process, by any means, including narco-terrorism.
During a presser, he, however, chose not to answer a question related to feedback vis-à-vis security concerns in J&K, with particular reference to assembly elections, from the Union Home Ministry during deliberations with ECI officials before the latter embarked on the UT visit.
With regard to voting rights for non-locals, including IAS, IPS officers, in assembly elections in J&K, CEC said, “Entire country follows the same guideline. The person, who ordinarily resides here, can cast a vote here. That is up to the person concerned.”
Giving an account of his deliberations with the political parties, CEC said that the majority of political parties wanted free and fair concurrent assembly, LS polls and level playing field in terms of security arrangements for candidates.
He informed that Suvidha portal “through first in, first out” would ensure level playing field as desired by political parties.
Kumar announced that there would be a “Home voting” facility for elderly persons and the Persons with Disabilities.
Responding to a query about service voters, CEC said that service voters constituted those serving in armed forces, CAPFs and were deployed on borders. “They are given the facility of postal ballots. The number of service voters in J&K in 2019 was 77503; it was 72737 in 2022. In 2024, this number is 76876,” he informed.
For migrant voters, he said that voting facilities would be there in 20 or so camps in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
He said that security requirements in J&K were already assessed. “Now we will assess when we sit on the drawing board as to exactly how much we require when we conduct parliamentary polls and how much we require when we go for assembly elections and how much we require when they are held concurrently. Rest assured, we will conduct elections, as and when they are held, in a free and fair manner and there will not be much delay in the conduct of both,” Kumar said.
Regarding the issue of detaining J&K Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh and not allowing him to meet ECI, CEC said, “The matter (about party) is under dispute- whom do we meet. Let us clarify this. This formula is for the entire country. We meet national parties and recognised state parties. Moment the dispute is over, claims and counter claims are settled; we will definitely meet them – this strengthens our feedback mechanism.”
He pointed out, “In a democracy, incentives and disincentives don’t work. To vote is both a right as well as duty. Voters are urged, persuaded and nudged at times but cannot be compelled or punished. This time, we have a “turnout implementation” plan in place – to increase voting percentage where it was less and to at least retain and not to fall below 67 voting percentage, which was recorded in 2019 (across the country).”