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The Election Commission of India Thursday reviewed poll preparedness in Indian-controlled Kashmir and held meetings with top officials to help conduct free and fair polls in the restive region, officials said.
A team of Election Commission officials headed by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath visited the region Thursday.
"V S Sampath was accompanied by Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi," a government spokesman said. "The Commission started their visit,meeting representatives of recognized political parties and held a series of meetings with the chief secretary, director general of police, special DGP and home commissioner."
The first phase of elections would be held on April 10.
The Indian-controlled Kashmir chief election officer Umang Narula was accompanying the delegation during the meetings.
"The Commission also held a detailed meeting with the returning officers and senior police officials regarding the election preparedness and obtained the necessary feedback vis-a-vis election preparedness and other related issues," the spokesman said.
Addressing a press conference at Jammu, the region's winter capital, Sampath said the commission will take all measures to redress the grievances it received.
He also said polling hours have been increased to ensure maximum participation of the electorate.
"Polling will begin at 7:00 a.m. local time and will go on until 6:00 in the evening," he said.
Polling for the 16th Indian general elections would be held in five staggered phases in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Officials said 9,633 polling stations would be set up across Indian-controlled Kashmir for voters. These booths would be set up at 7,346 locations, with 4059 of them regarded as critical.
Around 7 million voters including 3.2 million women are expected to cast their ballots in the restive Indian-controlled Kashmir.
In the upcoming India's general elections, the Congress party is seeking to regain power under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the fourth generation scion of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi clan. He would be facing Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate for Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) (India's Peoples Party).
