EC Announces Dates For Haryana, J&K Assembly Polls

The Election Commission has announced the dates for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar made the key announcement today for both the poll-bound states.

Jammu and Kashmir:

Election Phases: The elections in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three phases:

Phase 1: September 18

Phase 2: September 25

Phase 3: October 1

Counting of Votes: October 4

This election is crucial as it will be the first assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir since it was bifurcated into a Union territory in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370.

The last assembly election in the erstwhile state was held in 2014, with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) winning 28 seats and forming a coalition government with the BJP, which won 25 seats.

However, after the BJP withdrew support in 2018, the assembly was dissolved, and the region has been under President's Rule since then.

Haryana:

The election in Haryana will be held in a single phase on October 1.

Counting of Votes: October 4

Haryana was previously won by the BJP in 2014, ending a decade-long Congress rule.

In 2019, the BJP formed a coalition with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and Manohar Lal Khattar became the Chief Minister.

However, Khattar resigned in March 2024, and Nayab Singh Saini took over as Chief Minister, with the BJP ending its alliance with the JJP.