SRINAGAR: As Kashmir is into a two-day mourning strike sponsored by the separatists following killing of eight youth on Sunday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the state government to interact with the political parties over the possible deferring of the Wednesday polls in South Kashmir Lok Sabha constituency. The poll postponement was demanded by one of the contesting candidates, Tassaduq Mufti, whom ruling alliance PDP-BJP has fielded.
Informed sources from Delhi said that after Mufti’s appeal to the ECI, the top body has taken up the issue with the state government. There is a possibility of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) holding a meeting with the political parties on Monday to seek their suggestions, informed sources said.
Mufti Jr’s statement came after the first of the two phase bye-election for Central Kashmir constituency witnessed massive boycott as police and paramilitary forces killed eight youth and left scores injured. Some of the injured are still in hospitals undergoing surgeries.
Reports appearing in the electronic media suggest that if the ECI got a positive nod from the political parties, it may reject even the Srinagar’s Sunday poll because of the hugely low turnout. In no election of the Lok Sabha has Srinagar touched such a low percentage of 7.14 percent.
Asked if its ally was supportive of its demand, a political activist close to Mufti Jr said the BJP is “on the same page.” He did not elaborate.
Kashmir, in the meanwhile, is on a strike sponsored by the separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik. Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal have roads deserted as quite a few people have come out. The attendance is offices in minimal as educational and commercial establishments are locked.
Authorities have snapped internet connectivity across Kashmir. It has added to the tensions and rumour mongering. Even newspapers feel crippled in accessing information.
Reports from South Kashmir suggest that tensions have surged as the preparations for deployments have started. “It is frightening to move around,” a Shopian resident said. “There are deployments and not many people around.”
