SRINAGAR: Fresh elections will be held in 38 polling stations of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday, which saw unprecedented poll-day violence on Sunday. The 38 polling stations are
spread across five Assembly segments of the parliamentary constituency. The EC has also decided to defer the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat to May 25.
While 16 polling stations for Srinagar are located in Chadoora, eight are in Budgam, five in Beerwah, one in Khan Sahib and eight in Chararisharief.
The polling stations are based in 30 locations or buildings across Srinagar.
Violence had marred the polling in the byelections and eight persons died and several got injured in the firing by security forces on rampaging mobs in various parts of the constituency. The
constituency recorded merely 7 per cent voter turnout.
The Election Commission’s decision to defer the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat in South Kashmir has caused more headache for the PDP-BJP coalition government, which is already
facing the heat from Opposition parties.
The ECI late on Monday evening postponed the bypolls for Anantnag-Pulwama Lok Sabha seat scheduled to be held on April 12. Now, the election for the seat would be held on May 25.
The ECI deferred the bypolls after ruling PDP candidate from the seat and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s brother Tassaduq Mufti sought deferment of polls following unprecedented poll boycott and
poll violence in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Sunday.
The bypolls were conducted by EC only after the State government expressed its willingness to hold the elections.
“We did not receive any report from the State government that the situation was not conducive for elections and bypolls for Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary seats should be deferred,” J&K’s
Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu told New Indian Express.
He said the Model of Conduct will remain in force in South Kashmir comprising four districts of Shopian, Anantnag, Pulwama and Kulgam till May 25.
Adding to the woes of the PDP-BJP government, State Congress chief, G A Mir, who is also joint candidate of NC and Congress for Anantnag bypolls, told reporters in Anantnag on Tuesday that he
won’t contest elections unless Mehbooba resigns as CM and Governor’s rule is imposed.
Opposition NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said: “Postponing of bypolls following request of CM’s brother clearly indicates that the ECI is hands-in-glove with the government.”
He added that the NC demands a judicial probe into the death of eight civilians during polling in Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls.
“We also demand that Mehbooba step down as CM for failing to provide a secure environment to the people of the State,” added Sagar.
Ruling PDP chief spokesman Mehboob Beg said it is for the Election Commission to decide whether the situation in the Valley is conducive for polls.
He said the ECI’s decision to defer polls by one month will not end the uncertainty.
On Opposition parties NC and Congress's charge that the government got the polls deferred because it feared a rout in the polls, Beg said, “It is an irony that both parties wanted to go ahead with
polls despite seeing large-scale poll violence in Srinagar bypolls.”
(with inputs from agencies)