ECI may defer Anantnag byelection

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 30

The Election Commission is likely to defer the bypoll to the Anantnag parliamentary constituency as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has responded to the requirement of 687 companies of paramilitary forces for conducting the elections with a long list of conditions.

After witnessing violence during the bypoll to the Srinagar parliamentary constituency on April 9, in which nine persons were killed in security forces firing, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had rescheduled the bypoll to the Anantnag seat for May 25. The bypoll was earlier scheduled for April 12.

J&KChief Electoral Officer Shantmanu confirmed that the MHA had responded to the request made by their department. “The ECI has received a response from the MHA and the final decision will be taken tomorrow,” he said.

Observing the worsening conditions in the Valley, the ECI had asked the MHA o provide 687 companies of paramilitary forces comprising 100 personnel each for the smooth conduct of the Anantnag bypoll.

Highly placed sources said the ministry had on Saturday responded to the ECI’s request with a long list of conditions, which they said the state and Central governments may not be able to fulfil.

“The MHA has responded to the requirement of 687 companies, but put a long list of conditions to provide such a huge number of personnel to conduct the election in one parliamentary constituency,” sources said. “The conditions put by the MHA are unlikely to be accepted by the ECI and they may defer the elections for an indefinite period,” they said.