PDP favours postponing Anantnag LS by-poll; Cong & NC oppose

Ruling PDP is in favour of postponing the by-polls to Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency while Opposition Congress and National Conference demanded holding it as scheduled on April 12.
They put these views at a meeting of all parties called by the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to discuss holding of the Anantnag Lok Sabha by-polls, officials said here.
They said the meeting also discussed holding repolling in the areas that witnessed widespread violence during Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll yesterday.
Meeting was attended by representatives from PDP, BJP, Congress, National Conference, other state parties and independent candidates.
"NC's Akbar Lone, Congress representative Usman Majid and GN Monga called for holding the by-polls in Anantnag seat as per schedule on April 12 while NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar asked the CEO to take into account relevant circumstances before arriving at a decision," the officials said.

The Opposition representative also objected to holding any re-poll in Srinagar Constituency where eight persons were killed during large-scale violence around polling stations in various parts yesterday.

"The PDP representatives maintained that their leader Tassaduq Mufti has made the party stand clear on the issue this morning at a press conference. The PDP wants the by-poll be postponed in view of the prevailing situation to safeguard human lives," the officials added.
Tasaduq Mufti had appealed the EC to postpone the by-poll.
The Chief Election Commissioner reviewed the situation with local administrators through video conference.
The state CEO will submit a detailed report on the discussion to the Election Commission of India, the officials said, adding a decision on holding the by-polls likely to be taken tomorrow.