Govt writes to CEC, wants Anantnag election deferred

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 17: Full Election Commission will hold crucial meeting in New Delhi tomorrow evening to take decision on a request made by the State Government for deferring the by-election to Anantnag Parliamentary constituency in South Kashmir, which has been vacated by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti after being elected to the Legislative Assembly from Anantnag in June this year.
The full Election Commission comprising Dr Nasim Zaidi, Chief Election Commissioner, AK Joti and Om Prakash Rawat, Election Commissioners, will meet at Nirvachan Sadan in the Union capital tomorrow evening to take decision on a letter written by the State Government to the CEC requesting deferment of Anantnag by-election beyond December 28 due to current unrest in the Kashmir valley, which had hit hard the South Kashmir, where by-poll is to be held.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shantmanu has also been invited to the meeting to take his assessment on the situation in four districts of South Kashmir including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian, which formed Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the decision of the Election Commission largely depends on report of the CEO of the State based on current situation in South Kashmir and report obtained from law and order heads of the State, who include Chief Secretary BR Sharma and Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar.
When approached for comments, Shantmanu said the Election Commission of India will take final view on the Anantnag by-election in consultations with the State Government and based on the report of the State Election Commission.
Sources in the State Government confirmed to the Excelsior that Chief Secretary BR Sharma had written a letter to the Election Commission of India seeking deferment of election to Anantnag Lok Sabha seat beyond December 28 citing unrest in entire South Kashmir.
“The Government letter came as the Election Commission was, in the next few days, expected to announce by-election for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat by the end of November or start of December well before onset of harsh winter and snowfall in the South Kashmir,” sources said.
As per the existing rules, the Election Commission had to fill vacancy to Lok Sabha within a period of six months from the date the resignation of sitting member from that seat is accepted by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
While Mehbooba Mufti was elected to Legislative Assembly on June 22, her resignation from Lok Sabha had been accepted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on June 28.  As such, the Election Commission had to complete entire election process for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat by December 28.
However, according to sources, the Election Commission had the powers to defer by-election to a Lok Sabha seat beyond six months in view of “extraordinary situation” prevailing in the constituency, where the election had to be held.
The State Government, in its letter, had cited that situation in the entire South Kashmir was very disturbing and it was not possible to hold election there in November or December. The letter has reportedly mentioned that all four districts of Anantnag Parliamentary constituency including Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian have been hit hard by the unrest.
Sources said the full Election Commission was likely to announce its decision on Anantnag by-poll after tomorrow’s meeting or in the next couple of days.
Apart from taking assessment of the situation and report from the CEO J&K, the Election Commission will also seek report from the Chief Secretary and the DGP of the State on law and order situation before taking a decision on whether to hold election as per schedule or defer it.
Sources said the Government report has mentioned in detail the law and order problem created by stone pelters and other miscreants for past more than three months in almost the entire Kashmir valley including South Kashmir and wanted deferment of election as, under such scenario, it wouldn’t be possible to hold peaceful poll.
Meanwhile, according to sources, Srinagar Lok Sabha seat has not been declared vacant as yet as resignation of Tariq Hamid Karra, former PDP leader and Lok Sabha member, has not been accepted so far as it was not complete. “The resignation letter of Karra was incomplete”,’ sources said.
Karra had last month publicly announced his resignation from the PDP as well as Lok Sabha.

Follow our WhatsApp channel