Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar has called for a meeting of all political parties in Jammu on January 18.
A letter has been sent to 10 parties to attend the meeting . Official sources said Mr. Kumar wanted to gather their inputs on electoral process.
“In order to review the general preparedness for the coming general elections 2019, I am directed to request you to attend the said meeting,” said a letter issued by Deputy CEO, Anil Salgotra.
Jammu and Kashmir will witness both Assembly and parliament elections this year. The State has six Lok Sabha seats. The decision of the CEO not to put the Assembly polls on the table on Friday hints at indecisiveness of the Election Commission on whether to hold the two elections separately or together.
Official sources said the EC, which discussed Kashmir’s situation to hold Assembly polls recently, is again assessing the politico-security scenario from senior government functionaries on January 21 in Delhi to take a final call.
Mr. Kumar has directed officials to create awareness around electoral process.
After deciding to stay away from the urban local bodies and panchayat elections, the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have started reaching out to people.
