J&K Assembly Polls in 3 Phases from Sept 18, Haryana Votes on Oct 1; Results on Oct 4

New Delhi: The Election Commission has announced the schedule for assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first major political contest since the Lok Sabha elections.

This is a significant event, especially for Jammu and Kashmir, which will hold its first assembly polls in a decade and since the revocation of its special status.

Jammu and Kashmir will conduct its elections in three phases beginning September 18, while Haryana will hold its polls in a single phase on October 1. Vote counting for both states is scheduled for October 4. The Haryana Assembly’s term ends in November, while the Supreme Court has set a deadline of September 30, 2024, for the Jammu and Kashmir elections.

In Jammu and Kashmir, this election is the first since the state was bifurcated and its special status under Article 370 was removed in August 2019. The last assembly elections in the region were held in 2014, which led to a coalition government between the BJP and PDP. However, the alliance ended in 2018, leading to the dissolution of the assembly. The Supreme Court has mandated that elections be conducted by September 30, 2024, urging the restoration of statehood.

Key players in the Jammu and Kashmir elections include Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP, and the BJP. Abdullah has expressed his intent to contest, while the PDP is seeking a comeback after a poor showing in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress, which plans to field candidates across all 90 seats, is focusing on Jammu, where it has stronger support. The BJP is also gearing up for a robust campaign.

In Haryana, a five-way contest is expected between the BJP, Congress, JJP, INLD, and AAP. The BJP, which had formed the government in 2019 in coalition with the JJP, is now facing a fresh challenge after the alliance ended. The Congress, buoyed by recent successes, is dealing with internal factionalism but remains a strong contender. AAP is also looking to make significant gains following a boost in party morale.