NC Claims J&K L-G's Reshuffle Of Officials Aimed At Benefiting BJP, Allies

The election dates for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly have been announced. The Union Territory will be voting in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1.

The counting of votes will be held on October 4, alongside the results for Haryana, which will hold its elections on October 1.

Meanwhile, the National Conference has raised concerns over the recent transfers of civil and police officials by the Lieutenant Governor's administration.

Party vice-president Omar Abdullah called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine these transfers through the lens of ensuring "free and fair" elections.

He stated on X that the transfers, hastily ordered on Independence Day, indicated that the J&K administration was caught off guard by the ECI's impending announcement.

Abdullah said, "All the more reason that the ECI should look at this transfer order from the prism of a free & fair poll. NC suspects a biased intent on the part of the L-G."

The National Conference accused the administration of attempting to "undermine" the legitimacy of the electoral process, suggesting that the reshuffle was orchestrated by a BJP-appointed LG to benefit the ruling party and its allies.

Party general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar expressed concern that the move was "clearly intended to undermine the integrity of the electoral process," restricting transfers to prevent the ruling party from gaining an undue administrative advantage.

On Thursday, the J&K administration ordered transfers of several Deputy Commissioners and department heads. On Friday, IPS officer Nitish Kumar was appointed head of the J&K CID, relieving DGP R R Swain of additional charge.

The Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana later today.

The L-G-led Administrative Council on Friday morning conducted a "cadre review," with the objective of "strengthening the administrative set-up" in J&K.

This review included revising the strength and composition of services, resulting in the creation of new posts, deletion of old ones, and upgrading certain positions to improve administrative efficiency.

Directions were also issued for the restructuring of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Service cadre to be expedited by the Home Department.