Troop movements have begun in Jammu and Kashmir after the Election Commission (EC) announced the dates for assembly elections to the erstwhile state as well as Haryana on Friday.
According to a top-level official, in its first communication regarding the elections, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked forces to retain more than 500 companies currently deployed for the Amarnath Yatra for ‘advance deployment’.
This means that over 50,000 troops from the Central Armed Police Forces, who are already in J&K, will be deployed for the elections. Additionally, more troops will be deployed later. The deployment will be part of the advance preparations for the election, focusing on area domination and familiarisation.
Sources also said almost a week ago, the Election Commission had recommended retaining these troops after the completion of the Amarnath Yatra, officially scheduled for August 19. These troops will be responsible for the security of the Union Territory, which will be voting for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370.
Though official figures from the Ministry of Home Affairs show a decrease in terror activities and casualties among personnel and civilians, Jammu is once again witnessing attacks on the army. Areas such as Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi will be focal points, as these areas have seen multiple attacks on the army and civilians over the past two months.
It is expected that the Election Commission will deploy more companies than initially demanded for the general elections. For the general elections, the second-highest number of central force companies, totalling 635, were sent to Jammu and Kashmir. The deployment plan has been asked to be decided in consultation with J&K Police authorities, who are also to provide necessary accommodation, transportation, logistics, and other arrangements required for the forces’ deployment, as per ECI guidelines.
It will be a short election in Jammu and Kashmir, with just three phases spread over 14 days, almost half the length of the election schedule seen in the erstwhile state in 2014 when it last saw assembly elections or just a few months ago in the Lok Sabha.
Adhering to the Supreme Court deadline of September 30, 2024, for holding elections in J&K was topmost on the mind of the Election Commission of India and hence, the elections were announced the very next day after the Independence Day celebrations were over.
The elections in J&K will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1, and the results will be declared on October 4. The total election schedule, hence, will be just 14 days for polling, and a total of 17 days if one factors in the counting date too.
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