New Delhi: The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, on Wednesday said in Jammu that the Election Commission will release information regarding electoral bonds redeemed by all political parties in time.
He said the State Bank of India (SBI), as directed by the Supreme Court, has submitted the necessary details of the electoral bonds by the deadline of March 12. Kumar assured that after reviewing the data upon his return to Delhi, the Commission would promptly disclose it.
Emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to transparency, Kumar reiterated that transparency is paramount in all Commission activities and those of district magistrates involved in election procedures. He stressed that voters have the right to know the Commission’s actions.
SBI affidavit in Supreme Court
On Wednesday, the State Bank of India (SBI) submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, confirming its compliance with an order mandating the bank to furnish details of all electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The SBI reported that it has provided the electoral bond information in two pendrives, each containing two password-protected PDF files.
Also Read: Over 22,000 electoral bonds issued since April 2019: SBI files compliance affidavit in Supreme Court
Furthermore, the bank revealed in its affidavit that a cumulative total of 22,217 electoral bonds were distributed between April 2019 and February 15, 2024, before the Supreme Court terminated the scheme.
CEC on J&K polls
Regarding the delay in holding the Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir, political parties raised concerns during a meeting with Kumar on Tuesday.
He assured that a decision on the timing of these elections, whether simultaneous with the parliamentary elections or held separately, would be made after a security review and consultations with political parties, district magistrates, government officials, and paramilitary forces.
Kumar noted the complexities arising from the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 and the subsequent Delimitation Commission report, which increased the total number of Assembly seats from 107 to 114. These included seats reserved for various groups such as residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, migrants, and displaced individuals. There were discrepancies between the provisions of the Reorganisation Act and the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission.
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