PDP urges ECI to defer bypolls to Anantnag LS seat indefinitely

Srinagar/April,22: Ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Election Commission of India (ECI) to indefinitely defer bypolls to Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency in view of prevailing law and order situation in south Kashmir.
However, Congress, which is fighting the bypoll in an alliance with main opposition in the state National Conference (NC), said it will boycott the election if Governor’s rule was not imposed in the state.
Meanwhile, a high level team of ECI yesterday reviewed Anantnag Parliamentary bypoll preparedness and assessed security situation through video-conferencing.
A PDP leader said that their party candidate for bypoll Tassaduq Hussain, who is brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, made the plea during a video conference with EC officials last Monday.
The ECI also held video conference with other candidates contesting the bypolls to ascertain their views about holding of elections to the constituency on May 25.
By-poll in the constituency necessitated following resignation by Mehbooba Mufti who become chief minister and got elected from Anantnag Assembly seat which felt vacant after the death of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in January last year.
However, the polling which was scheduled to be held in the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was deferred by ECI following death of nine persons and injures to over 100 during violence on poll day in Srinagar LS seat which recorded just 7 per cent voter turnout.
An official said Deputy Election Commissioners, Umesh Sinha and Sandeep Saxena, besides Director Secretariat of ECI Nikhil Kumar were briefed yesterday by Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner Baseer Khan, IGP, DIG CRPF and concerned District Election Officers about the bye-poll preparedness and security situation particularly in South Kashmir.
The Chief Electoral Officer also held a detailed meeting with representatives of political parties, contesting candidates, Officers of the Police and other security agencies in which District Election Officers and SSPs of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts participated through video conferencing.