The Election Commission on Friday started the preparations to hold elections for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by deciding to accept applications from political parties for use of common symbols for their candidates.

"The Commission has decided to accept applications seeking allotment of common symbols under Para 10B of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968, for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect," the EC statement read.

An official said that under Para 10 B of the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968, any registered unrecognised political party can apply for a 'common symbol' six months prior to the end of the term of a House.

While recognised national and state parties have their 'reserved symbols', registered unrecognised parties have to apply for one to field candidates. When free symbols are allocated to unrecognised parties, the returning officer allocates the remaining unclaimed symbols to Independents "on the spot".

Usually the process of applications for common symbols starts six months before the term of an Assembly is to end, but since J&K has not had an Assembly since it was dissolved in 2018, the EC decided to start the process now, a source said.

The five LS seats in Jammu and Kashmir recorded voter turnout of 58.58%, which was highest in last 35 years.

Enthused by the voter participation in Jammu and Kashmir in just-held Lok Sabha polls, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar recently said the poll panel will "very soon" initiate the process of holding assembly polls in the Union Territory.

While announcing the poll schedule for the Lok Sabha elections in March, Kumar had said holding assembly and parliamentary elections simultaneously was not practical due to logistical and security reasons.

Whenever assembly elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir, they will be the first since the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.

Following a delimitation exercise, the number of assembly seats has gone up from 83 to 90, excluding those allocated to PoK.

In December, the Supreme Court directed the poll panel to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30.