ECI team starts meetings on election preparedness in Valley

An Election Commission of India team arrived here on Monday to review preparedness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir together with other states in the country.

The ECI team headed by Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena and some senior officers of the commission is meeting leaders of seven national and three regional political parties in summer capital Srinagar to seek their response on holding elections in the state.

The ECI will also hold detailed discussions with deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) of ten districts in the Valley and two districts in the Ladakh division.

Official sources said the team will get a detailed briefing on overall security in the Valley from zonal police chief and other nodal officers before flying to winter capital Jammu for similar briefings and meetings.

Sources said the team will also be briefed about the security situation in the state following cross-border tensions in the past one week.

Before flying back to Delhi on Tuesday, the team will hold a press conference in Jammu.

The ECI visit is taking place amid intense speculation whether the state Assembly polls will be held simultaneously with the general election or be deferred.

--IANS

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