The by-election for Anantnag Parliamentary Seat which fell vacant on July 4 after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned, is likely to be deferred by the Elections Commission of India, KNS has learnt. Highly placed official sources told KNS that though the by-poll on the Anantnag parliamentary segment was supposed to be held in the month of December and the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Office was gearing for the same, the Election Commission of India was likely to defer the elections for some time. “The final decision in this regard will be convened to the CEO within couple of days,” sources said however added that for deferring the election, the approval from the Parliament is required.Meanwhile if sources are to be believed then ECI is also considering to held together Lok- Sabha by-election to both Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies.
Anantnag seat had fall vacant after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who represented the constituency in the LoK Sabha, resigned on July 4 following her election to the Legislative Assembly.Srinagar Lok Sabha seat had also fallen vacant in September after PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra had resigned from the party as well as Lok Sabha.Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) J&K, Shantmanu also did not rule out the deferment of the election. He told KNS that that he has forwarded the report on Anantnag by-poll to the Election commission of India. “November 17 was the deadline set by the ECI to send the report on the Anantnag bypoll. After taking the view of political parties, I have forwarded the report to the election commission of India for taking final view,” the CEO said however did not rule out the deferment of the elections.
He said that within one week the election commission of India would take final call on it. “ I think ECI in the next couple of days will take a decision on whether to hold the election in December or defer it for some time,” he said but was quick to add that they are ready for the election If they get the call from the ECI.It is to mention here that the PDP-BJP government had written to the ECI to defer the Anantnag parliamentary by-election citing reason that the situation was not conducive to hold free and fair polls.Sources said that after receiving a letter from the state government, the ECI had written to the CEO to send his report by November 17 after taking all political parties of the state on board.
Sources said that the PDP in the All Party Meeting, wanted Anantnag by-poll to be deferred in view of present law and order problem and similarly sources said that BJP has also endorsing the Government and PDP stand for deferring the Anantnag election to April. Sources said that The BJP has also cited law and order situation and weather conditions for deferment of the by-poll.However, sources said that all other Opposition parties favoured timely election to fill Anantnag Lok Sabha seat. Interestingly the Election Commission of India (ECI) had postponed by-poll to the Anantnag (Islamabad) Assembly constituency after Jammu and Kashmir Government raised concerns over law and order situation in the district. (KNS)