We have three pillars – disclosure, disclosure and disclosure. Disclose everything to people. The commission has been in favour of transparency. SBI has given us in time, and we have received it. We will disclose it on time,” the CEC said.
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Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday said the Election Commission will share all relevant information related to the electoral bonds.
Kumar, who was talking to media-persons here after reviewing the election preparedness in Jammu and Kashmir, said the EC has received details related to the electoral bonds from the State Bank of India (SBI).
“We have three pillars – disclosure, disclosure and disclosure. Disclose everything to people. The commission has been in favour of transparency. SBI has given us in time, and we have received it. We will disclose it on time,” the CEC said.
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The Supreme Court had directed the SBI to submit the details of electoral bonds purchased since 12 April 2019 to the EC that has been directed to share the information on its official website by 5 pm on 15 March.
On the issue of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Kumar did not make any announcement and said that the changes in the number and composition of Assembly seats in the UT post-2019 and the J&K Reorganisation Act have changed the situation.
There has been no delay on part of the ECI with regard to the holding of polls in J&K. However, he added that the ECI would hold Assembly polls at the earliest. After the J&K Reorganisation Act that was notified in December 2023, it is only three months and as such there is no delay from our side in holding the Assembly elections.
He said that the Commission is concerned about holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but the final call on whether to hold two elections simultaneously, will be taken through thorough consultations with the security agencies and political parties.
He, however, said that elections will be held soon without much delay. Majority of political parties we met in Srinagar and Jammu demanded that Assembly and Lok Sabha polls be held simultaneously, Kumar said. One thing is sure that we want early Assembly polls in J&K. Elections will be held in a peaceful manner. “There will be free and fair polls in J&K,” the CEC said.
He said that representatives of political parties also demanded level playing field and adequate security cover for campaigning.
Kumar said that the delimitation has increased the number of Assembly seats in J&K to 114 with the effective strength increasing to 90 from the earlier 83. There is also a reservation for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Besides, 9 seats have been reserved. Two seats have been reserved for Kashmiri migrants and one for displaced persons from PoK.
“Adequate security will be provided to all candidates and central forces will be deployed,” he added.
People above 85 years and those with a disability will be provided a voting at-home facility in J&K, he added. Special polling booths will be established for Kashmiri migrants at Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.
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