Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief electoral officer Shantmanu called a meeting with political parties on Monday to know their opinion about the April 12 by-election to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, after first phase witnessed an unprecedented low voter turn out and violence.
Moreover, there also has been a demand to cancel the Srinagar bypoll that left eight people dead and scores wounded. Sundays voter turnout was 7.14%, the lowest in three decades.
The meeting was called after a request from the ruling PDP to postpone the Anantnag bypoll to avoid a repeat of Srinagar.
Meanwhile, representatives of National Conference Akbar Lone and Ali Mohammad Sagar, and Congress represented by Usman Majid and G N Monga objected to the re-poll in Srinagar.
PDP representative maintained that the party has already made the stand clear at a press conference held this morning. He said PDP has unequivocally reiterated that by-poll should be postponed in view of prevailing situation to safeguard human lives.
NC and Congress representatives called for holding by-poll in Anantnag as per schedule on 12 April while Ali Mohammad Sagar asked the CEO to take into account relevant circumstances while arriving at a decision. Representatives of several other political parties also presented their views on the issue.
Earlier today the Chief Election Commissioner reviewed the situation in a meeting with CEO and the local administration through videoconference.
Chief Electoral Officer is submitting a detailed report to ECI Monday evening pursuant to proceedings of all party meeting based on which a decision is expected by Tuesday.
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