Srinagar
After extraordinary boycott and violent protests against by-polls for Srinagar Parliamentary seat –in which eight civilians were killed and more than hundred injured—with cancellation of next phase polling in Islamabad , Election Commission has decided to re-poll on 38 polling stations.
The voting percentage was recorded as 7.14 percent.
Officials in Election Commission said that, that re-polling will be held on April 13.
The decision has come after polling could not be held properly on Sunday due to massive protests by locals. People attacked polling booths and damaged or attempted to damage EVM’s.
As per the ECI notification, the polling stations in Chadoora Assembly constituency, where re-polling is to be held include 31-Bogam Batepora (B), 32-Bogam Batepora (B), 33-Nowbug, 39-Chack Mahand-Joo-Dhar, 52-Wathora (B), 54-Zoolwah, 55-Gopalpora (A), 56-Gopalpora (B), 57-Dooniwari, 60-Kralpora (A), 61-Kralpora (B), 63-Kralpora (D), 65-Dharambug (A), 66-Dharambug (B), 87-Bagi Mehtab (B) and 98-Dharambug (C).
In Budgam Assembly Constituency, the re-polling would be held on 22- Nusurullah Pora (B), 23-Nusurullah Pora (C), 28-Galwanpora (A), 30-Haripora, 32-Wara Sangam, 40-Soibug (H), 107-Putlibagh and 120-Galwanpora (B) polling booths.
Similarly, in Beerwah Assembly Segment, the re-polling would be held on 15-Kanihama, 29-Badran (B), 34-Peerpora, 89-Sehpora and 94-Gundipora (A) polling booths.
Likewise, the re-polling would also be held on 7-Repora, 9-Gopal Saif (A), 16-Nowpora, 38-Chrar-i-Sharief (M), 86-Kanir (A), 87-Kanir (B), 90-Hushroo and 91-Wagam of Chrar-e-Sharief Assembly Segment and polling booth number 79-Kandora (B) of Khan Sahib Assembly Constituency.
At number of places, particularly in Budgam district, the protests turned bloody as forces fired live bullets in retaliation and left at least eight young people dead. More than hundred people including polling staff were injured in the situation.
Later in the day, Tasaduk Mufti PDP’s candidate for Islamabad seat, for which elections were scheduled to be held on April 12 appealed EC to postpone the elections talking in view the situation prevalent and apprehension that situation can turn worse.
After meeting and consulting different stakeholders, EC later in the evening decided to postpone the polls till May 25.
Decision of conducting polls afresh was taken on Tuesday by Election Commission.
Interestingly, all of these polling booths are in Budgam district that witnessed maximum violence and killings.
