The Election Commission of India on Friday announced the assembly election dates for Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. Voting will be held in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir on 18 September, 25 September and 1 October. In Haryana, one phase of voting will be held on 1 October. The results in both states will be declared on 4 October.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar while addressing the media said that the Lok Sabha elections were conducted peacefully. The whole country celebrated the festival of elections. Long queues were seen, the elderly, the youth went to vote. The country saw a living example of democracy. The picture that India showed to the world was astonishing. The brilliance that we saw will be seen for a long time. Whenever elections are held anywhere in the world, you will remember your country and it will keep reminding you of our strength.
On Jammu & Kashmir's assembly elections, CEC said, "Everyone we talked to in Jammu and Kashmir, political parties, was of the opinion that elections should be held as soon as possible. You remember that the long queues that were formed at the polling booth were the strength of democracy. This glimpse of hope and democracy shows that the people want to change their own destiny. People want to be a part of changing the future of the country."
On being asked about Assembly Elections in Maharashtra, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, "Last time, Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections were held together. At that time, J&K was not a factor but this time there are 4 elections this year and 5th election immediately after this, which is to start with J&K, Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi. Depending on the requirement of forces, we have decided to conduct 2 elections together...The other factor is that there was heavy rainfall in Maharashtra and there are several festivals lined up too..."
It means the Election Commission has announced dates of only Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir's elections and the rest of the dates will be announced later.