Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 26: Although they indulged in exchanging barbs during the election campaign in Kashmir Valley, two arch-political rivals Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti joined hands to oppose any move to delay polling on the prestigious Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat.
While Omar Abdullah cautioned against delaying polling on this seat, Mehbooba Mufti while campaigning in Surankote warned that such action would shatter people’s faith in democracy.
Smelling a deep-rooted conspiracy in the demand of the BJP and some other parties to delay elections of the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, the NC and PDP asked the Election Commission not to postpone polls.
Notably, responding to the representations received, the Election Commission of India has requested reports from the Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer of J&K, particularly focusing on road and weather conditions, as well as any other pertinent issues raised. The representations include submissions from various political figures, including Ravinder Raina, Altaf Bukhari, Mohammad Salim Parray, Imran Reza Ansari, the Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Peoples’ Front, and two independent candidates, Ali Mohammad Wani and Arshad Ali Lone.
Omar Abdullah, emphasizing the smooth progress of campaigning and the absence of significant objections from the main contenders in the Parliamentary constituency, urged the Election Commission to refrain from postponing the elections. He cautioned against sending the wrong message by delaying the polling process, subtly alluding to the BJP’s involvement in the demand for postponement, noting that not all parties support this plea, and some individuals lobbying for it are not even contesting on this seat.
Regarding potential actions if the Election Commission does delay the elections, Omar asserted that all options, including legal recourse, are under consideration. He emphasized the importance of keeping the electoral process on track, urging the Election Commission to instruct local authorities to maintain open access to roads.
Omar Abdullah advised the Election Commission against dignifying certain parties’ requests, including the BJP’s, to postpone elections under the pretext of Mughal Road closure, implying a political ploy. Similarly, Mehbooba Mufti, aligning with Omar’s stance, accused rival politicians of colluding to hinder her candidacy and manipulate the electoral process, particularly through Election Commission interventions.
Mehbooba dismissed the grounds for postponement, highlighting her recent travel through the Mughal Road, which has since reopened for traffic, and emphasized the proximity of the polling date, making postponement unnecessary.
In contrast, Ravinder Raina, the Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief, expressed the party’s willingness to abide by the Election Commission’s decision, respecting its autonomy. He cited logistical challenges in the Rajouri-Poonch region due to Mughal Road closures, leading to fewer nominations from that area. |