Anantnag-Rajouri LS seat: Mehbooba, Omar warn against poll deferment

Srinagar, Apr 26: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah have issued strong warnings against any potential deferment of polls on the Anantnag Rajouri seat, slated to be held on May 7, 2024.
Holding separate press conferences, both leaders expressed grave concerns over what they described as “frighteningly preposterous” attempts to delay the crucial elections.
Mehbooba Mufti, expressing her dismay, criticized the purported reasons for the possible deferment as “lame excuses,” cautioning against a repetition of history reminiscent of the tumultuous 1987 polls. She emphasized the enduring repercussions of the massive rigging in 1987, attributing it to the ongoing bloodshed and turmoil in the state. Mufti condemned the perceived strategies aimed at impeding her political participation, alleging, “Only to stop me, you are devising such strategies.”
Highlighting the broad-based support garnered across party lines, Mufti underscored the significant investment made by her party workers in the electoral process. She urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to refrain from embarking on any such measures that could lead to disastrous outcomes, asserting that the reported efforts to defer the polls were part of a larger conspiracy to exclude her from parliamentary representation.
In a detailed letter addressed to the ECI, Mufti expressed vehement opposition to the move, alleging that it is aimed at derailing their campaign efforts.
On the other hand, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah accused government agencies of resorting to such tactics whenever reports suggest NC’s advantage. Abdullah warned the ECI against taking such actions, stating that the demand for deferment hasn’t been received by every party and questioning the significance of signatories not even in the electoral fray. He emphasized the need to consider every party’s viewpoint and cautioned against turning elections into a mockery under a well-planned strategy.
Abdullah was accompanied by his uncle, Mustafa Kamal, and Anantnag Rajouri seat candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad during the press conference.
Pertinently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) earlier on April 25, this year, directed its focus toward the rescheduling of the General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024, in the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency of Jammu and Kashmir. In response to representations submitted by several political leaders citing adverse road conditions and inclement weather, the ECI intervened by writing a letter to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and the Chief Electoral Officer of the region. The report however pertaining to the matter is pending.