The Election Commission (EC) is set to announce the schedule for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections at a press conference scheduled for 3 PM today. While the EC has not officially named the states, it is widely anticipated that the announcement will cover elections in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Haryana.

The term of the Haryana Assembly is set to conclude in November 2024, while a Supreme Court ruling mandates that elections in Jammu and Kashmir must be held by September 30, 2024. Jammu and Kashmir has been without an elected Legislative Assembly for the past five years.

Historically, the EC has synchronized the elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, given the close proximity of their assembly terms. However, there is a possibility that the EC may choose to separately hold otherwise joint state polls this time around. Earlier this month, an EC delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar visited both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana to assess the readiness for the upcoming elections. Additionally, a high-level meeting was held with Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to address security concerns, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, where the security situation remains sensitive.