SRINAGAR: A day after unprecedented poll boycott and violence in bypolls to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency left eight civilians dead and over 100 injured, ruling PDP and BJP Monday asked Election Commission of India (ECI) to defer bypolls for Anantnag seat in South Kashmir scheduled to be held on April 12 while the opposition National Conference and Congress insisted holding of polls on schedule.
“The situation in Valley is not conducive for the polls. We request the ECI to defer the bypolls for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat,” Tassaduq Mufti, brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, said while addressing a press conference today.
The bypolls for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in South Kashmir is scheduled to be held on April 12.
The bypolls were necessitated after Mehbooba Mufti vacated the seat following her taking over as Chief Minister of PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on April 4 last year.
46-year-old Tassaduq, who joined politics in January this year, said he would withdraw his candidature from the seat if it helps in postponement of the polls.
“However, I would contest the polls if ECI goes ahead with conduct of the election,” he said.
At least eight civilians were killed and over 100 others injured in the security forces firing on protestors in Budgam and Ganderbal districts during bypolls to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat yesterday.
The 7.14 poll percentage recorded in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat yesterday was the lowest percentage recorded in the seat in last 28 years of turmoil in the State.
Asked whether PDP or State government had written to ECI that polls should be deferred, he replied in affirmative.
“The PDP and the State government had conveyed to ECI that situation in Valley was not conducive for the polls. However, the ECI went ahead with conduct of polls,” he said.
Tassaduq said the State can only make an appeal and they have already made it. “Once the ECI decides to hold the polls, then the government has to make arrangements”.
Asked whether separatists carried the day yesterday because their boycott call worked, Tassaduq said, “I think no one carried the day. I think we lost the day. How can we give credit to anybody who curtail the freedom”.
After yesterday’s poll violence and Tassaduq’s call for deferment of polls, State’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Shantmanu today convened an all party meeting to seek views of parties on holding of bypolls for Anantnag parliamentary seat.
PDP representative Waheed-ur-Rehman said the party wants deferment of Anantnag bypolls.
“PDP has unequivocally reiterated that bye-poll should be postponed in view of prevailing situation to safeguard human lives,” he said.
A BJP leader said the party representatives in the All Party Meeting also favour deferment of polls in view of violence during bypolls to Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
However, opposition National Conference’s Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Nasir Aslam Wani and Congress representative Usman Majid and G N Monga called for holding of bypoll in Anantnag as per schedule on April 12.
"PDP is facing imminent rout from the State and the party is now seeking an escape route. PDP’s stand for deferring polls is purely based on the fact that they have realized that their decimation is a foregone conclusion", the NC delegation said.
The CEO is submitting a detailed report to ECI this evening pursuant to proceedings of all party meeting based on which a decision is expected by tomorrow, official sources said.
Reacting to Tassaduq’s call for deferment of polls, opposition NC working president and former Chief Minister said Tassaduq's statement is an indictment of his sister Mehbooba’s government and its abject failure. “How can the BJP not see this?”
“ECI is well within its powers to postpone or countermand Anantnag election,” he said and asked Mehbooba to resign and hand over charge of the State to Governor N N Vohra.
Two days before polling for Anantnag seat, unknown persons set on fire two buildings designated as polling stations in Anantnag and Shopian districts.
South Kashmir, which comprises four districts of Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam, was the epicenter of last year’s unrest triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016.
The election campaigning has remained confined to addressing of party workers and party convention at “safe places” by leaders of PDP, NC and Congress.
The mobile internet and broadband services in the Valley remained suspended for second consecutive day today.
The train services between Banihal and Baramulla also remained suspended in the Valley today in view of the shutdown called by the separatists.
The life in Valley was disrupted by two-day shutdown called by the separatists against killing of eight civilians in security forces on Sunday.
All shops, business establishments and petrol pumps in Valley remained closed while public transport was off the roads.
The youth at some places in Kashmir clashed with the security personnel. The security men fired tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the stone pelting youth.