Anantnag bye-poll deferred to May 25

The Election Commission on Monday deferred the election in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency till May 25.

Election authorities concerned decided that the poll scheduled for April 12 in the Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency may be deferred from time being, it said in a notice.

"The commission expects the law and order situation in the constituency to improve and become conducive to the holiding of free and fair election," it said.

The next date for poll is May 25.

On Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir government in its report to the EC had said that the law and order situation in Anantnag is not conducive to the holding of free and fair poll while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the Election Commission to postpone the Anantnag election.

PDP candidate Tassaduq Mufti, who is the brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, said the situation in the valley was not right for election.

The Anantnag seat fell vacant when Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the seat after becoming Chief Minister of the state on July 4, 2016.

A school building was set ablaze as mobs stoned security personnel on Monday in Anantnag town and adjoining areas, while eight civilians were killed when the security forces opened fire during the voting process in the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary bypoll on Sunday.

--IANS

rs/vd