Poll boycott – The Kashmir Horizon

Farooq Abdullah declared elected from Srinagar Parl constituency

K H News Service — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 20:55:08 +0000

Srinagar/ April,15: The National Conference Saturday made a comeback in Central Kashmir Parliamentary seat, with its candidate and party patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah emerging victorious by a margin of over 10,000 votes. He defeated his nearest PDP rival Nazir Ahmed Khan. Srinagar Parliament seat comprises of 15 assembly segments spread over three districts of Budgam, Srinagar and Ganderbal.
The National Conference had lost the seat to PDP’s erstwhile leader Tariq Hamid Karra in the 2014 LokSabha polls with a big margin of 42,280 votes.
Shortly after winning the Srinagar Parliament seat, National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah said that, “this vote is for the rejection of the People’s Democratic Party.”
He said that people have taught PDP a lesson that is hand in glove with RSS and BJP. “There is no justification for Mehbooba Mufti to cling to the power now. People have given answer to her and she should immediately step down,” Abdullah said.
Farooq Abdullah said that it is right time to engage all the stakeholders and hold dialogue with them. “Kashmir is an issue that needs to be resolved. Government of India should talk to all the stake-holders to find solution to this problem,” he said.
Responding to a question, Farooq Abdullah said that to resign from Srinagar seat is not up to him. “All the decisions are taken in the Working Committee. Future strategy will be chalked in the Working Committee meeting that will be held soon,” he said.
Abdullah appealed to the President Pranab Mukherjee to impose Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I want to thank people who voted for me. They have clearly rejected People’s Democratic Party,” Farooq told reporters at NC headquarter Nawa-e-Subh here.
He also appealed president of India to dismiss the state government as it has “failed to deliver”. “I will secure the Article 370 and my win is dedicated to people of Kashmir. I will also talk to all stakeholders to find a solution for the Kashmir issue,” he added.

Security clampdown in poll bound Budgam areas

K H News Service — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:09:44 +0000

Budgam/ April 12: To ensure incident free polling in re-poll bound areas, unprecedented security arrangements have been made by authorities while the deployments have been increased phenomenally.
Official sources said three district SPs and one additional SP will be deployed and given specific territories to manage the overall polling stations. “The idea is to ensure that there is no intervention in the polling station and there is no possibility of any sort of booth capturing,” one police officer said. “We will provide adequate security and confidence to the voter to exercise his right of franchise.”
Returning Officer said that no polling station has been changed. “The polling stations will be located at the places they earlier existed.
“Security was the main concern on Sunday and that is the only aspect that is being taken care of more seriously this time. Otherwise, everything is same.”
Every polling booth will have more than two companies attached for the day long exercise.
As per the ECI notification, the polling stations in Chadoora Assembly constituency, where re-polling is to be held include 31-Bogam Batepora (B), 32-Bogam Batepora (B), 33-Nowbug, 39-Chack Mahand-Joo-Dhar, 52-Wathora (B), 54-Zoolwah, 55-Gopalpora (A), 56-Gopalpora (B), 57-Dooniwari, 60-Kralpora (A), 61-Kralpora (B), 63-Kralpora (D), 65-Dharambug (A), 66-Dharambug (B), 87-Bagi Mehtab (B) and 98-Dharambug (C).
In Budgam Assembly Constituency, the re-polling would be held on 22- Nusurullah Pora (B), 23-Nusurullah Pora (C), 28-Galwanpora (A), 30-Haripora, 32-Wara Sangam, 40-Soibug (H), 107-Putlibagh and 120-Galwanpora (B) polling booths.
Similarly, in Beerwah Assembly Segment, the re-polling would be held on 15-Kanihama, 29-Badran (B), 34-Peerpora, 89-Sehpora and 94-Gundipora (A) polling booths.
Likewise, the re-polling would also be held on 7-Repora, 9-Gopal Saif (A), 16-Nowpora, 38-Chrar-i-Sharief (M), 86-Kanir (A), 87-Kanir (B), 90-Hushroo and 91-Wagam of Chrar-e-Sharief Assembly Segment and polling booth number 79-Kandora (B) of Khan Sahib Assembly Constituency.
Most of the eight killings that took place on Sunday were reported from Budgam. At various places, the youth locked the polling stations. At a few places, they escorted the security detail of polling stations to the nearest camps. However, at a few places, they snatched the EVMs and destroyed them. Officials said even though a number of killings were reported, the police and paramilitary forces exhibited restraint to avoid loss of life.
Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K, Shantmanu Wednesday said that adequate arrangements of security and videography have been made for re-polling at 38 polling stations in Budgam district of Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency being held on April 13, 2017.
The CEO was speaking at a meeting convened to review arrangements for the re-poll. He said that the poll process at all the polling stations will be videographed, besides one micro-observer from central government offices will also be deputed for each polling station where re-polling is being conducted. He said that all other arrangements mandated by the Election Commission of India for ensuring free and fair polls have also been put in place.
The re-polling at the 38 polling stations in Budgam will begin at 7 am and will conclude at 4 pm.

Srinagar by-poll candidates appeal people to boycott re-polls

K H News Service — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:08:50 +0000

Srinagar/April 12: The seven parliament candidates for Srinagar who were in the fray of by-polls on Wednesday jointly called for boycott in the re-polls, slated to be held on Thursday for 38 polling stations.
The candidates said that they won’t let their brothers to die.
The seven candidates including state president of Rashtriya Jankranti Party (RJP), Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha leader, Chetan Sharma, Rashtriya Samajwadi Party (Secular) leader, Engineer Sajad Reshi and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Bikram Singh, besides three independent candidates, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Ghulam Hassan Dar, Mehraj Rashid Malik held a joint press conference Wednesday at a local hotel here.
Mirza Sajad while talking to the reporters said that they were not taken into the confidence before taking the decision the re-polling in 38 polling stations.
He said that they tried to meet the returning officer and Chief Election Officer to register their protest but unfortunately the officers were not present.
Saying that it is not an election but selection, Mirza Sajad said, “The people are being befooled with such exercises. We appeal the people to stay at their homes and don’t cast the ballots as we won’t let our brothers to die intentionally. The unfortunate incident that took place on Apr 09 was painful.”
He questioned that if the atmosphere is not conducive for the polls in Anantnag then how come it is conducive for the 38 polling stations which witnessed pro-freedom protests on Apr 9.
Mirza Sajad said, “The government is putting the lives of Kashmiris at risk through this re-polling. The fingers are being raised at the credibility of ECI for postponing the polls on the request of PDP candidate.”
He said that the unlike Jammu, the protesters here are being targeted with the bullets, which expose the Government of India’s policy towards Kashmir.

Adequate arrangements of security, videography at all 38 Polling stations: CEO

K H News Service — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:07:30 +0000

Srinagar/April,8: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K, Shantmanu Wednesday said adequate arrangements of security and videography have been made for re-polling at 38 polling stations in Budgam district of Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency being held on April 13, 2017.
The CEO was speaking at a meeting convened to review arrangements for the re-poll. He said the poll process at all the polling stations will be videographed, besides one micro-observer from central government offices will also be deputed for each polling station where re-polling is being conducted. He said all other arrangements mandated by the Election Commission of India for ensuring free and fair polls have also been put in place.
The re-polling at the 38 polling stations in Budgam will begin at 7 am and will conclude at 4 pm.

Section-144 imposed in Budgam areas

K H News Service — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 20:06:57 +0000

Budgam/April,8: According to District Magistrate Budgam restrictions under Section-144 shall remain in force in the district today on 13 April 2017, except for those areas where re-poll is to be held.