By-polls elections, a challenging task for ECI

All polling stations categorised ‘hypersensitive, sensitive'

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: Holding by-polls in Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies seems a challenging task for the Election Commission of India as all the polling stations have been categorised as “hypersensitive and sensitive”.

Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency—spread over four south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama in south Kashmir—is going to polls on April 12.

The Srinagar constituency, comprising three districts of Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam, will go to polls on April 9.

All the polling stations in Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies for the upcoming by-polls have been categorised as “hypersensitive” and “sensitive” by the Election Commission of India (ECI).  The south Kashmir is the most volatile area when the militancy related incidents have increased in the recent past.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, Shantmanu, said that considering the overall situation in the constituencies, all the 3,194 polling stations have been categorised as “hypersensitive” and “sensitive”.

In Srinagar, the Returning Officers have informed the CEO that 1,559 polling booths were “hypersensitive” and “sensitive”.

The remaining over 1,600 polling stations in south Kashmir's Anantnag parliamentary constituency also fall under the same categories.

Shantmanu said that “necessary arrangements” have been made to conduct the parliamentary by-polls in a “free and fair atmosphere”.

Shantmanu, earlier asked the Returning Officers to start awareness programmes in various educational institutes to ensure increased participation in the polls.

An ECI official said that the categorisation is based on the possibility of “militancy-related violence or apprehension of clashes between rival political workers”.

Police is going to make the security arrangements to ensure smooth polling in both the parliamentary constituencies.

“Whatever security-related arrangements are required to ensure smooth polling in both the constituencies will be taken by the police,” a police official said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday accused the government for “discouraging” the opposition parties from carrying out the election campaign for two parliamentary seats the charge denied by ruling parties.

“It is a concern for both NC and the Congress that a concerted effort is being made on the part of the government to discourage the opposition from carrying out election campaign for the by-polls of two Parliamentary constituencies. Our security is being downgraded. Bullet proof vehicles of party functionaries are being withdrawn. Escort vehicles are being taken away. The contesting candidates of 2014 elections are being told to manage without PSOs even in highly threatened areas like Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian,” Omar had said in a press conference here.