Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections were announced by the Election Commission of India during a press conference. Elections will be held for the first time after the removal of Article 370. Jammu and Kashmir is now a Union Territory and the first assembly elections will be held here after the abolition of Article 370. Assembly elections are to be held in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where the deadline given by the Supreme Court for holding elections is ending on September 30. Last December, the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to conduct assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30.
After 10 years, elections have finally been announced in the paradise of the world. Jammu and Kashmir will get its elected government on 4th October. The results will be announced after the assembly elections on this day. After this, it will be decided whose government will be formed. However, many changes occurred in Jammu and Kashmir in these ten years.
Schedule of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections
Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections will be held in three phases. The first phase of elections will be held on the 18th of September 2024. Furthermore, the second phase of elections will be held on the 25th of September. The final and the last third phase will be held on the 1st of October 2024. Moreover, the counting of votes will be on the 4th of October 2024. Hence the path to forming a new Jammu and Kashmir assembly will be opened after the 4th of October.
Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats
After the delimitation held last year in Jammu and Kashmir, there are now 90 assembly seats. For the first time, 9 seats have been reserved for ST. Apart from this, seats have also been reserved for Scheduled Castes. There were 107 seats in the state Assembly which has now increased to 114. After delimitation, maximum seats have increased in Jammu.
Under the new delimitation, earlier there were 37 seats in Jammu and now there are 43 assembly seats. There were 46 seats in Kashmir, now this number has increased to 47. Earlier there were two nominated members in the Assembly, now this number will be 5. Two seats have also been reserved for displaced Kashmiri Hindus.
Seats reserved for POK
Pakistan occupied some areas of Jammu and Kashmir right after independence. After this, it remains Pakistan’s possession. In 1956, when a separate constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was made, 24 seats of POK were earmarked in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. It is believed that one day POK will come out of Pakistan and join India. On 22 February 1994, Parliament unanimously passed a historic resolution demanding that Pakistan vacate the areas of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which it had occupied through invasion.
Hence in this election also, 24 seats will remain reserved for Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. This area of Jammu and Kashmir is currently under Pakistani occupation. That is why it is called POK.
Haryana assembly election announcement
The tenure of Haryana Assembly is going to end on November 3. The state elections have to be conducted even before this. Hence, the Election Commission of India has announced the assembly election date. The Election Commission announced the election date in Haryana along with the Jammu Kashmir assembly. Voting will take place in Haryana in a single phase on October 1. Counting of votes for both the assemblies will take place on October 4.
Earlier news was coming that the Commission will also announce the schedule of Maharashtra Assembly elections. But did not announce the dates of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Since 2009, assembly elections in both the states of Maharashtra and Haryana have been held simultaneously thrice. However, this time the assembly elections of both the states are being held separately. It is noteworthy that the tenure of Maharashtra Assembly is going to end on 26th November. The tenure of the Haryana Assembly is till November 3.
