'No Need to Postpone Anantnag Polls': Former J&K CMs Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah Urge ECI

Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have urged Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday not to delay polls for Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency on pleing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. “I urge both Election Commission of India not to delay polls. re is absolutely no need to postpone elections. If I write to EC about constituencies in Tamil Nu, etc., will y take notice?” Omar Abdullah said while dressing a hurriedly called press conference at his party hequarters in Srinagar.

“We've heard reports of BJP and or parties, working with ECI, trying to delay elections in Anantnag and Rajouri due to b wear. But it’s suspicious because appeal came from non-contesting parties and candidates, raising doubts about BJP and PC’s involvement despite not fielding candidates. ir initial appeal first surfaced on social media, even though y aren’t participating in this seat,” Omar ded.

“As a political party, we strongly oppose any attempts to postpone upcoming elections in Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency. We believe re is no valid reason to delay electoral process, even if Mughal ro is closed for a few hours. If ros to Keran and Machil can remain accessible, why not Mughal Ro? Unless ministration is involved in a conspiracy to manipulate electoral outcome in this constituency,” Omar ded

ullah said, “Initially, his party is sending a written communication regarding it to ECI. If JKNC plea is ignored, n we’ll explore 'legal options',”.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Surankote area of Poonch district, Mehbooba Mufti said, “y’ve all united against me because y don't want me in Parliament. People from all religious and party backgrounds are rallying behind me, so y're trying to manipulate and postpone elections through Election Commission”.

PDP leer mentioned that she recently travelled on Mughal Ro, which was recently reopened for traffic. Now, BJP and its allied parties have suddenly brought up issue of Mughal Ro.

“My appeal to ECI is to refrain from postponing elections with only 10 days remaining for polling. This will convey wrong message and le to serious consequences," she ded.

Mufti cited purported rigging in 1987 assembly elections, which she claimed led to onset of terrorism in J&K, and urged ECI to refrain from undertaking such a risky endeavour. She emphasised that people of J&K have alrey endured considerable suffering and have minimal trust in electoral process.

Mufti cautioned BJP and its allies. “You're attempting to replicate events of 1987, which resulted in bloodshed and transformed valley into a graveyard," she said.

Both leers were referring to Thursday night communication from Election Commission of India to J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer and Chief Secretary, wherein it was mentioned that certain parties h approached commission requesting postponement of elections due to challenges in campaigning caused by closure of Mughal Ro.

representation was submitted by Ravinder Raina, BJP’s J&K president, Syed Mohamm Altaf Bukhari, chief of J&K Apni Party, Imran Reza Ansari from People’s Conference, vocate Mohamm Saleen Parray, and independents Ali Mohamm Wani and Arsheed Ali Lone.

Pertinently, newly carved Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency is set to vote in third phase on May 7th to determine destiny of 21 candidates, among m Mufti, who faces a significant competition from National Conference veteran Gujjar leer Mian Altaf.