ECI moves file to union law ministry for formal notification of Anantnag Parliamentary seat

Srinagar, Nov 28 (KNS): The Election Commission of India has moved the file to the Union Law Ministry for their concurrence to defer the Anantnag Parliamentary by-elections.
Reliable sources told KNS that the Election Commission had fully concurred with the report submitted by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shantmanu proposing deferment of Anantnag Lok Sabha by-election, and then clubbing by-election of Srinagar Lok Sabha seat with Anantnag.
“By-elections for both the parliamentary constituencies, Anantnag and Srinagar are now to be held on or before the 17 April next year. The ECI has moved the file to Union Law ministry for final notification for the Anantnag by-elections which shall take a week or so,” sources said.
Sources said that the issue of the fixation of schedule and deferment of Anantnag by-elections shall not take the parliament route as it is hoped that union Law ministry together with election commission of India shall take a call on this.
Shantmanu Chief Electoral officer told KNS that in next couple of days the election commission of India is likely to issue the formal notification. “What we had proposed regarding the by-election for both the Anantang and Srinagar parliamentary seat has been agreed by the ECI. Now ECI has moved the same to the law ministry for formal notification,” Shantmanu told KNS over Phone.
He further confirmed that the by-election is likely to be held, before 17 April 2017 for both the constituencies.
Sources said that the CEO held meeting with the Chief Election Commission of India last week y in New Delhi regarding the conduct of by-election for Anantnag parliamentary seat. “ During the meeting the CEO after conveying the views of all J&K political parties, law and order situation, harsh weather conditions and other aspects to the ECI, The ECI agreed that the by-election to Anantnag Parliamentary seat along with, Srinagar Parliamentary to be clubbed and then to be held in April next year,” sources said.
Shantmanu had told KNS he is meeting Chief Election Commissioner of India in New Delhi. “I am attending annual conference in New Delhi tomorrow and likely to meet Chief Election Commissioner regarding the conduct of by-election for Anantnag parliamentary seat,” he had said and added that ECI is likely to take a final decision whether to hold the election in December or defer it for some time.
Anantnag seat had fall vacant after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who represented the constituency in the LoK Sabha, resigned on July 4 following her election to the Legislative Assembly.
Srinagar Lok Sabha seat had also fallen vacant in September after PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra had resigned from the party as well as Lok Sabha.
It is to mention here that the PDP-BJP government had written to the ECI to defer the Anantnag parliamentary by-election citing reason that the situation was not conducive to hold free and fair polls.
Sources said that after receiving a letter from the state government, the ECI had written to the CEO to send his report by November 17 after taking all political parties of the state on board.
Sources said that the PDP in the All Party Meeting, wanted Anantnag by-poll to be deferred in view of present law and order problem and similarly sources said that BJP has also endorsing the Government and PDP stand for deferring the Anantnag election to April.
Sources said that The BJP has also cited law and order situation and weather conditions for deferment of the by-poll.
However, sources said that all other Opposition parties favoured timely election to fill Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.
Interestingly the Election Commission of India (ECI) had postponed by-poll to the Anantnag (Islamabad) Assembly constituency after Jammu and Kashmir Government raised concerns over law and order situation in the district. (KNS)