- EC to take call soon on Anantnag LS seat election
- RO too meets candidates, their representatives
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 27: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Pole have sent a detailed report to the Election Commission of India (ECI) after obtaining all facts from the concerned authorities pertaining to weather and road conditions in Anantnag-Poonch-Rajouri (APR) Parliamentary constituency which is scheduled to go to polls in third phase on May 7.
Prior to submission of report, Returning Officer of Anantnag seat Syed Fakhruddin convened a meeting which was attended by candidates or their representatives in which he took their opinion pertaining to weather conditions in the Parliamentary constituency.
Official sources told the Excelsior that on the directions of the Election Commission, the Chief Secretary and the CEO have obtained comprehensive reports from all concerned authorities regarding weather and road conditions including Mughal Road which connects Anantnag with Rajouri and Poonch districts.
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“A detailed report as sought by the Election Commission has been submitted by the CEO and the CS which is based on details obtained from all concerned authorities regarding weather conditions, Mughal Road, accessibility and all other factors on Anantnag-Poonch-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency,’’ the sources said.
They added that the Election Commission is expected to take a call in couple of days on whether to revise schedule of Anantnag seat or go ahead with the current date.
Some of the candidates, who are opposed to postponement of the election have also submitted report to the Election Authority here that they have incurred lot of expenditure in the campaigning.
South Kashmir (Anantnag and other districts) falling in the Valley are linked to Rajouri and Poonch districts, which are part of Jammu division, via Mughal Road which has been closed for traffic due to snowfall and rains. However, Jammu-Srinagar road is open for traffic.
Prior to the submission of report by the Chief Secretary and the CEO J&K to the Election Commission, Returning Officer for Anantnag constituency Syed Fakhruddin also convened a meeting of all candidates and their representatives to take their view point.
Nearly 10 candidates attended the meeting in person while others including PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and NC nominee Mian Altaf, former Minister sent their representatives.
The Returning Officer took statements from the candidates and their representatives which were forwarded to the CEO, the sources said.
While representatives of Mehbooba and Mian Altaf opposed postponement of the election, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) candidate Zaffar Manhas referred to rain and snowfall on Mughal Road.
Some of the Independent candidates too favoured that the election be rescheduled.
The ECI had sought report on weather conditions, accessibility and other factors etc in Anantnag constituency following representations submitted by political parties and three candidates seeking rescheduling of election due to adverse weather conditions including snowfall on Mughal Road and Pir Ki Gali.
In a communication addressed to the Chief Secretary and the CEO J&K, the ECI had sought a detailed report immediately on road conditions, weather and accessibility related constraints besides any other relevant points mentioned in the representations which had been submitted separately by Ravinder Raina, UT BJP chief, Imran Reza Ansari (People’s Conference), Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari (Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party), J&K Nationalist People’s Front, Apni Party, Advocate Mohammad Saleem Parray, Ali Mohammad Wani and Arsheed Ali Lone, both Independent candidates.
A total of 25 candidates filed their nomination papers, four of which were rejected leaving 21 in the fray on Anantnag constituency.
One of the representations mentioned that the candidates from Rajouri and Poonch couldn’t file their nomination papers due to closure of Mughal Road in view of snowfall as they couldn’t reach Anantnag where the Returning Officer of the constituency sits.
The representations also highlighted difficulties faced by the candidates in campaigning.
Prominent candidates in fray from Anantnag include PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, former Minister Mian Altaf (National Conference), Zaffar Manhas (Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party) and Advocate Mohammad Parray (DPAP).
The BJP hasn’t fielded any candidate in Anantnag constituency though UT chief of the party Ravinder Raina was stated to be frontrunner for the seat. Name of an IAS officer was also under consideration of the BJP high command.
Polling in Anantnag is scheduled to be held in third phase on May 7. Nomination for the seat had opened on April 12 while April 19 was last date for filing of the papers.
Srinagar Lok Sabha seat will go to polls in fourth phase on May 13 while Baramulla and Ladakh constituencies will vote in fifth phase on May 20.
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