EC team defers J&K visit

An Election Commission team, slated to visit Jammu and Kashmir today for an on-the-spot assessment ahead of the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll, postponed its trip.
The team instead interacted with candidates, field election officers and civil and police officials concerned via video conferencing.
"The team postponed the visit due to a religious festival there. District administration and police officials would have come to Srinagar to interact with the Commission. It is better they stay in their areas due to festivities and the resultant law and order scenario," said a senior official here.
According to the official, the team held detailed interaction with various stakeholders, including candidates, representatives of political parties and officials on various issues.

The Election Commission had on April 10 postponed the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll to May 25, citing inputs by the Jammu and Kashmir government that law-and-order situation was not conducive for polling.
The by-election was to be held on April 12.
The Commission hoped that by May 25 the law and order situation in the constituency would be normal to hold a free and fair poll.