Srinagar, June 17
Even as the dates for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir have not been finalised, preparations are on for smooth conduct of the elections, scheduled to be held by October this year. Election observers will be sent to the state shortly, Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh said here today.

“The observers will see that the conditions for proper elections are put in place,” Mr Lyngdoh said at a press conference on the second day of his tour of the state. He was accompanied by the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Pramod Kumar Jain. The Chief Election Commissioner said the observers would see that candidates of different political parties got proper security in view of the prevailing situation in the state.

Referring to the introduction of electronic voting machines, being used for the first time in the state, Mr Lyngdoh said the observers would also look into the imparting of training to the staff for the use of these machines. He added that 800 electronic voting machines had been procured for use in the elections.

Mr Lyngdoh said the state government had been asked to submit its assessment of the strength of security forces required during the election process. He said proper security arrangements would be made for the security of candidates, voters and polling booths so as to ensure free and fair elections. He stated that the security forces would not be used to coerce voters and in any such instance, proper action would be taken.

Earlier, the Chief Election Commissioner, the Election Commissioner, Mr B.B. Tandon, the Deputy Election Commissioners, Mr A.N. Jha and Mr Saryain Chatterjee, and the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, held a meeting with leaders of different political parties here yesterday.