J&K assembly polls to be held with Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be held along with Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana, sources said on Monday.

The elections to the three states are expected to be held in October this year and now, sources say, violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir will also join the electoral process.

Jammu and Kashmir was brought under Governor's rule on June 20, 2018 after the BJP withdrew support from the ruling coalition led by the PDP. Six months after the Governor's rule, the President's rule was implemented as per the relevant provisions in the state and central Constitution.

Governor Satypal Malik on November 21, 2018, dissolved the 87-member state assembly after the PDP, supported by the Congress and their arch-rivals National Conference, had staked claim to form the government.

Meanwhile, the BJP's central leadership has called a meeting with its Jammu and Kashmir leaders on Tuesday. BJP leaders will take stock of the party's preparedness for the upcoming elections, whose schedule is likely to be announced by the Election Commission after the Amarnath Yatra is completed next month.

The sources said Union minister Jitendra Singh, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, its state unit president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders from the state will attend the meeting, which is likely to be chaired by party's working president JP Nadda.

Senior leaders including BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh will also attend it.

JP Nadda will travel to the state in the coming days to oversee and tone up the party's organisational work for the elections, the sources said.

Earlier, Ram Madhav, who is the party's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir, had urged the EC to hold polls in the state this year.

Home Minister Amit Shah had asserted in Parliament that the Centre is prepared to hold polls once the Election Commission announces the schedule.

The poll panel had said on June 4 that it will announce the schedule after the Amarnath Yatra, which is concluding next month.

(With inputs from Himanshu Mishra, PTI)