Candidates to remain same, only date of polling changed
*Decision taken after representation by parties
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 30: The Election Commission today postponed polls to Anantnag-Poonch-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat which was scheduled to go to polls in third phase on May 7 to May 25, the sixth phase of polling for the ongoing Parliamentary polls, citing logistical issues due to adverse weather conditions.
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Nine political parties and candidates including the BJP, Apni Party and DPAP had demanded postponement of the elections due to snowfall on Mughal Road and other accessibility issues while the NC and PDP had opposed postponement.
Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference leader Mian Altaf, Zaffar Manhas from Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party and Advocate Muzaffar Parrey are among 20 candidates in the fray for elections
“Excepting change in date of elections, there has been no change in other schedule. The contesting candidates will remain unchanged,” Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Pole said.
Earlier, the polling in Anantnag-Poonch-Rajouri constituency was scheduled for May 7, the third phase, which has now been deferred to May 25, the sixth phase. Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases. Counting will take place on June 4.
Udhampur-Doda and Jammu-Reasi Parliamentary seats went to polls in first two phase on April 19 and 26 while Srinagar and Baramulla seats will have voting in fourth and fifth phase on May 13 and 20. Lone Ladakh constituency will also have polling on May 20 in the fifth phase.
In an official communication, the Election Commission said that various representations were received from different political parties of Jammu and Kashmir for shifting the date of election to the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency.
These parties had cited various logistic, communication and natural barriers of connectivity turning out as a hindrance in campaigning which in turn amounted to a lack of fair opportunities for the contesting candidates in the Parliamentary constituency.
“The Commission, after considering a report from UT administration as well as analysing the ground situation prevailing in the said constituency, has decided under Section 56 of Representation of People Act, 1951, to revise the date of poll from May 7 to May 25” it said.
The Election Commission officials said the Commission has only revised the poll date for the Lok Sabha seat and all statutory processes including nomination, scrutiny and withdrawal are already over with 20 contesting candidates.
The leaders, who had petitioned the Election Commission, included Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit chief Ravinder Raina, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari, People’s Conference leader Imran Ansari and others.
The Election Commission had asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to immediately 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 Jammu region.
Former Chief Ministers of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) had urged the Election Commission last week not to postpone polls.
The former Chief Ministers made the appeal after EC sought a report from Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole on representations submitted by some parties and three candidates seeking rescheduling of elections in the constituency due to adverse weather conditions.
Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary seat, which was reshaped on the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission in 2022, covers 18 Assembly segments across three districts of Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam in south Kashmir and two border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, barring one Assembly constituency, in Jammu region.
The two regions on either side of Pir Panjal are connected through the Mughal Road which usually remains closed during winter months owing to heavy snowfall, especially in the Peer Ki Gali and adjoining areas.
The road was recently cleared for one-way traffic after a hectic snow clearance operation but fresh snowfall forced closure of the traffic on the road on April 27.
There are 18,30,294 eligible voters including 9,30,379 males and 8,99,888 females in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.
BJP has not fielded any candidate and is contemplating to extend support to one of the contestants not linked to the Congress, NC and PDP.
The Lok Sabha seat will have 2,338 Polling Stations including 2113 in rural areas and 225 in urban.
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