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The Election Commission has set the stage for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, marking a significant political event following the Lok Sabha elections.

 

Jammu and Kashmir, which has been without an elected assembly since 2018, will conduct its first election in a decade following the revocation of its special status. The polls in Jammu and Kashmir will occur in three phases, starting from September 18.

 

Haryana, on the other hand, will vote in a single phase on October 1. The results for both states will be announced on October 4.

 

This election in Jammu and Kashmir holds particular importance as it will be the first since the region’s special status was revoked in August 2019. The previous assembly elections in the region were held in November-December 2014, where a coalition government was formed by the BJP and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

The coalition ended when the BJP withdrew support in June 2018, leading to the dissolution of the assembly in November of the same year. Since then, the state has been under direct rule from New Delhi.

 

The Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024, in response to petitions challenging the revocation of Article 370.

 

This direction also included a recommendation for the restoration of the state’s full status. The political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be highly competitive, with the National Conference led by Farooq Abdullah, the PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti, the Congress, and the BJP all preparing vigorously.

 

Farooq Abdullah has already expressed his intent to contest and is confident of a majority, while the PDP is aiming for a strong comeback after its poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

 

In Haryana, the assembly elections will be held in a single phase on October 1, with the counting of votes also scheduled for October 4. The current term of the Haryana Assembly ends in November, making the timely completion of the elections crucial.

 

The political parties in Haryana are gearing up for the elections, with the BJP, Congress, and other regional parties positioning themselves to secure a win.