Jammu Tawi, June 6: Though it is going to be a multi-cornered contest in the by-poll in Anantnag constituency, the militants and separatists would attempt to scuttle the democratic process by scaring the people.
Though people are under scare but if the security grid is further upgraded it may restore confidence among the voters.
No doubt there are eight candidates in the field after an independent MLA, Sheikh Rashid withdrew his candidature from the contest, the tie is actually going to be among the candidates fielded by the PDP, the National Conference and the Congress.
Split in votes between the National Conference and the Congress may prove helpful to Mehbooba who has already told the BJP to stay away from the pre-poll campaign.
Indications are that additional companies of security forces were being deployed in the constituency to prevent militants from creating added scare among people who would be forced to stay indoors on the day of polling.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is also the PDP president, faces a contest from seven candidates, including five Independents, in the by-election to Kashmir's Anantnag Assembly seat which will be her party first major test of popularity since forging an alliance with the BJP.
Killing of three BSF personnel and two policemen in Anantnag indicate that militants were trying to disrupt the ensuing Assembly by-election from Anantnag Constituency where Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, is ruling PDP's candidate. These incidents were being enacted to cause fear among people who may stay inside their houses on June 22 the day of polling. With the militancy related violence in the rise in Anantnag district, separatists were planning to give a call for poll boycott which may evoke some response from the people not out of their respect for the separatists but out of fear of being hit by militants.
The BJP is aware of the plan of militants and its leaders are trying to woo over 2,000 pandit voters from Anantnag constituency who are settled in Delhi, Jammu and Udhampur. If these voters support Mehbooba her success is assured in the wake of poor voting in Anantnag constituency.
There are other issues too that may affect the law and problem. First is the energy crisis that warrants prolonged outages causing anger among people. Second is the Government's refusal to implement the 7th pay commission and the employees over one lakh were preparing for a massive agitation which may paralyse the working in the offices, including the civil secretariat.
Another issue pertains to the inordinate delay in paying land compensation to those from whom land had been acquired for various development projects in Chadoora area.
Ruling Peoples' Democratic Party's MLA from Chadoora, Javaid Mustafa Mir Saturday threatened the government of creating law and order problems for it if the land compensation cases from his constituency were not cleared.
The bypoll for Anantnag, the Assembly seat formerly represented by Mehbooba's father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed which became vacant following his death in January this year, is scheduled to take place on June 22. The date for withdrawal of candidature closed on Saturday, leaving eight candidates in competition for the seat. The main contest in Anantnag remains between Mehbooba, National
Conference leader Iftikhar Hussain Misger and Congress candidate Hilal Ahmad Shah, who was the runner-up for the seat in 2014.
Militants plan to disrupt by-poll in Anantnag from where Mehbooba is fight for her survival.
