SRINAGAR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday rescheduled the Lok Sabha election in Anantnag-Rajouri constituency in Jammu and Kashmir from May 7 in the third phase to May 25 in the sixth phase.
According to a statement by the ECI, the decision was taken after representations received from different political parties from J&K for rescheduling the polling date in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency.
The ECI said that after considering a report from the Union Territory (UT) administration and analysing the ground situation, it has been decided that under Section 56 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, the poll date should be revised.
While the J&K People’s Conference, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), J&K Apni Party, and the BJP had demanded postponement of the polls, the National Conference and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) requested the ECI hold the election as per schedule, alleging a conspiracy.
There are 21 candidates in the constituency, and PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is one of them. Mufti alleged that the ECI was being used to rig the elections.
The Mughal Road, which connects Rajouri-Poonch with Kashmir, has been closed due to snowfall, and some parties have claimed that campaigning is difficult under such circumstances. Following which, the poll panel sought a detailed report from the Jammu and Kashmir administration on road conditions, weather, and accessibility to the region, which includes sections of South Kashmir as well as Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu region.
This Lok Sabha election is the first major poll Jammu and Kashmir is facing after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The ongoing Lok Sabha election is the first major poll in Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Mughal road, which connects Rajouri-Poonch with Kashmir, has been closed due to snowfall, and some parties have contended.
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