STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: After communications from the State government, the Election Commission of India has postponed voting for Anantnag Assembly seat by-election to June 22.
“Following requests by various political parties including the PDP, NC and the Congress, State Chief Secretary had written to the election commission requesting postponement of voting for Anantnag Assembly by-election to June 22,” an official of the State electoral office said here on Friday.
Voting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 19.
“The request was made by the political parties because June 19 is the death anniversary of a religious leader who belonged to Anantnag,” the official said.
Contesting parties feared low voter turnout on June 19 because of the death anniversary of the religious leader as the town and adjoining areas will remain closed on that day.
“After consultations with State Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu the Election Commission has postponed the voting date to June 22 instead of June 19. Counting will now take place on June 25,” the official said.
Eight candidates, including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, are in the fray for Anantnag bypolls.
The seat fell vacant after the death of the then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who represented Anantnag Assembly constituency in the 87-member State Assembly.
Hurriyat calls for boycott of Anantnag assembly poll
Srinagar: Chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Friday called for boycott of by-poll in Anantnag assembly constituency scheduled to go to polls on June 22 where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is contesting.
“Geelani appealed for complete boycott of the upcoming assembly elections for Islamabad (Anantnag) seat,” a Hurriyat statement said quoting the octogenarian leader.
Mehbooba is one of the nine candidates in the fray for the by-election to Anantnag assembly segment, which was necessitated by the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7 this year.
