ECI cancels Anantnag bypolls

Srinagar/May,2:  The Election Commission of India has cancelled the Islamabad Lok Sabha bypolls, saying the ground situation is not conducive to hold free and fair elections, reports said on Tuesday.
The bypolls, earlier slated to be held on April 12, were postponed for May 25.
The Commission has said non-availability of sufficient number of forces’ personnel was another reason to cancel the poll process.
The 10-page order said a fresh date would be announced later.
“Keeping in view the ground situation in the valley and having considered the reports of the divisional commissioner and CEO, it is not conducive to hold bypolls,” the order reads.The poll panel’s decision also comes a day after the Centre said it would not be able to deploy 75,000 paramilitary personnel, but only half of that for poll duty.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the resignation of the incumbent MP and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti last year, who took over as chief minister of the state. Her brother Mufti Tassaduq Hussain will be contesting from the seat.The ruling party had petitioned the EC to defer the polls indefinitely in the constituency in the wake of violence in the valley.