EC postpones Anantnag bypoll to 22 June citing security issues

Srinagar: The by-election to the Anantnag Assembly seat, from where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is seeking election, has been postponed from 19 June to 22 June following requests by the political parties which do not want it to clash with the death anniversary of a religious preacher. “The polling for Anantnag Assembly seat has been deferred from 19 June to 22 June. The decision to this effect was taken by the Election Commission yesterday,” said Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shantmanu. The bypoll has been postponed following requests by the political parties — Congress, National Conference and PDP — which expressed concerns that if voting is held on 19 June then voter turnout could be affected, he said, adding that also there were reports from police and civil administration that there could be law and order problems. [caption id=“attachment_2815682” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti. Reuters[/caption] Earlier, the bypoll for this seat was postponed to 19 June from 16 May by the Election Commission due to security-related issues. The state government had sought postponement of the election in this Assembly seat on May 16 by flagging law and order situation. Anantnag town observes a complete shut down in memory of Qazi Nisar Ahmed, a founding member of the Muslim United Front (MUF) in late 1980’s. He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on 19 June 1994. MUF was an amalgam of various parties including Jamaat-e-Islamia formed to counter National Conference-Congress alliance in 1987 elections. The seat had fallen vacant after the demise of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on 7 January this year. His daughter and present incumbent Mehbooba Mufti has filed nomination from this seat. Besides her, eight others, including an independent MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid, have filed their nomination papers for the by-election to this seat. Opposition National Conference (NC) has fielded Iftikhar Hussain Misgar and Rashid while Congress Hilal Ahmad Shah. Mehbooba, who assumed office on 4 April has six months to get elected either to the Assembly or the Legislative Council. However, the election process has to be concluded before 7 July, the six-month deadline set as per the Representation of People Act in case a seat falls vacant.