Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday urged the Election Commission of India to prioritize the restoration of full democracy in the Union Territory (UT). 

Talking to reporters, Abdullah emphasized the importance of scheduling both Parliament and Assembly elections to ensure democratic representation in the region.

Abdullah expressed his lack of expectations from the Election Commission, asserting that their primary focus should be on facilitating the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted the prolonged absence of Assembly elections in the region, stressing that it has been a decade since the last such electoral exercise took place.

“We have no expectations from the Election Commission. The Election Commission should play a role in its mission of bringing democracy. It has been ten years since Jammu and Kashmir has seen Assembly elections,” Omar said.

Abdullah further questioned the disparity between the conduct of Lok Sabha elections and the delay in holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He called for simultaneous scheduling of both elections, underlining the need for equitable democratic representation across all levels of governance in the UT.