The ruling PDP was in favour of postponing the by-polls while the Opposition demanded holding it as scheduled on April 12.
The Anantnag bypoll, scheduled for April 25, has been deferred and will now be held on May 25, reported ANI. The Election Commission cited inputs by the Jammu and Kashmir government that law-and-order situation was not conducive.
The EC notification said the state administration apprehends that "violent attempts" can be made by miscreants to thwart the poll process. It pointed at large scale violence which took place in Srinagar on Sunday during a similar bypoll. June 1 has been set as the date by which election process should be completed in Anantnag. The long period has apparently been given keeping in mind the possibility of repoll that may be held there.
Ruling PDP was in favour of postponing the bypolls to Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency while Opposition Congress and National Conference demanded holding it as scheduled on April 12. They put these views at a meeting of all parties called by the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to discuss holding of the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypolls, officials said here. They said the meeting also discussed holding repolling in the areas that witnessed widespread violence during Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll yesterday.
The meeting was attended by representatives from PDP, BJP, Congress, National Conference, other state parties and independent candidates.
"NC's Akbar Lone, Congress representative Usman Majid and GN Monga called for holding the by-polls in Anantnag seat as per schedule on April 12 while NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar asked the CEO to take into account relevant circumstances before arriving at a decision," the officials said.
The Opposition representative also objected to holding any re-poll in Srinagar Constituency where eight persons were killed during large-scale violence around polling stations in various parts on Sunday. "The PDP representatives maintained that their leader Tassaduq Mufti has made the party stand clear on the issue this morning at a press conference. The PDP wants the by-poll be postponed in view of the prevailing situation to safeguard human lives," the officials added.
Tasaduq Mufti had appealed the EC to postpone the by-poll.
The Chief Election Commissioner reviewed the situation with local administrators through video conference. The state CEO will submit a detailed report on the discussion to the Election Commission of India, the officials said.
With inputs from PTI.
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