Dr. Abdullah and Mian Altaf criticize the Election Commission of India (ECI) for postponing the Anantnag-Rajouri polls to May 25, citing public support. Various leaders support rescheduling due to weather concerns. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has been asked for a detailed report.
RAJOURI/JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah took a swipe at the Election Commission of India (ECI) for postponing polling in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat to May 25. Dr. Abdullah asserted that they have the full support of the people in the constituency. “It was not up to us to defer the elections. The Election Commission has deferred it. Congratulations to them,” Abdullah told reporters regarding the postponement of elections on the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
In response to inquiries about the party’s strength in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat and the prospects of victory, he stated, “I can only say this, I have full faith in the people. We have full faith in Allah.”
NC candidate and former minister Mian Altaf Ahmed also criticized the ECI, claiming he had never seen such an example of polls being deferred in the history of elections. “There is no precedent in history for the deferment of elections. I have never heard of elections being postponed due to a mere landslide. This is unprecedented. It is an undemocratic step,” Altaf told reporters.
He alleged that people’s resentment against the system would further increase. “There is no justification for such a step. The seat carved out after delimitation by joining people of Anantnag with Rajouri-Poonch belt is unjust and cruel. People have already felt it. They are unhappy about it. It is just an excuse,” he added.
The elections to the redrawn Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, originally slated for May 7, were postponed to May 25 by the Election Commission.
This decision followed appeals from several leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit chief Ravinder Raina, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari, People’s Conference leader Imran Ansari, and others, requesting the rescheduling of polls due to adverse weather conditions. The Election Commission had instructed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to promptly submit a detailed report on road conditions, weather, and accessibility to the region, which covers parts of south Kashmir and areas in Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu region. The official notification stated that the polls would now be held on May 25.
Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) had urged the Election Commission last week not to postpone the polls. The constituency, originally scheduled for the third phase on May 7 to decide the fate of 21 candidates, including Mehbooba Mufti, who faces a challenge from NC’s Mian Altaf, will now go to polls in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
