Election Commission of India announces Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana poll schedule; counting on Oct 4

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday (Aug 16)announced the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in the state of Haryana and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

In Jammu and Kashmir, polls will be held in three phases:

First -September 18
Second - September25
Third - October 1

In Haryana, polls will be held in one phase, on October 1

Results will be declared on October 4 for both the states.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Rajiv Kumar in a press briefing said 11,838polling stations would be set upin Jammu and Kashmir. In Haryana, more than 20,500 polling stations would be set up.

"We recently visited Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana to take stock of the election preparation in these places. A great enthusiasm was seen among the people. They wanted to participate in the election process. People want elections to be conducted there as early as possible...The long queues at the polling booth in J&K during the Lok Sabha elections are proof that people not only want change but also want to raise their voice by becoming a part of that change," Kumar said in the press conference.

Ahead of the poll schedule announcement,a major administration reshuffle was observed in the Union Territory. More than 200 civil and police officers were transferred on Friday.

It must be noted that assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand are due to be held in the next fivemonths. The terms of Maharashtra and Haryana Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly)will end on November 3 and November 26 respectively, and Jharkhand's in January next year.