Incidentally, the EC has not given a fresh date for the bypolls and, depending on further feedback, may hold it sometime in October this year, if all goes well
The Election Commission (EC) has finally rescinded the bypolls for Anantnag parliamentary constituency scheduled for May 25, thus exposing the gross failure of the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government in dealing with the prevailing volatility in the Valley.
Qualifying the state administration's utter lack of control over the situation, the EC cited the Chief Secretary's report apprehending that elections being conducted in Anantnag on May 25 "might witness not only large-scale violence but can also result in an even lower voter turnout".
Incidentally, the EC has not given a fresh date for the bypolls and, depending on further feedback, may hold it sometime in October this year, if all goes well.
"Taking note of the fact that no immediate improvement in the law and order situation is in sight, the Commission is of the considered opinion that this is not the opportune time to continue with the exercise of the conduct of the bye-election from Anantnag parliamentary constituency," the EC stated.
Earlier, the EC was forced to defer the bypolls scheduled for April 12 to May 25 after it witnessed the lowest-ever voter turnout of 7 per cent in violence-hit Srinagar on April 9, where eight protesters were killed by security forces.
In its 10-page order, the EC, citing its discussions with various state government authorities — including the Chief Secretary, DGP, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and political parties — explained in detail how holding elections was not possible despite large-scale presence of security forces, adding that any efforts to hold them may further toss the Valley into a vicious circle of violence.
In what can be read as a sorry commentary on the state of affairs in the Valley, the poll watchdog noted that "even in the event of deployment of 687 companies (besides 54 already present) of CAPFs (central armed police forces), there is no assurance from the state administration that the poll scheduled to be taken on 25th May, 2017, would be peaceful affair now".
Citing a report of the CEO dated April 27, the EC said that after the Srinagar bypoll, the number of incidents of law and order being broken has increased and more than 80 incidents of stone-pelting by protesters have been reported in the Valley since April 10.
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