JK opposition asks EC for conducive environment for bypolls

The Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir today reached out to the Election Commission expressing "serious concerns" over the situation prevailing in the state, while demanding a conducive environment for the conduct of free and fair polls in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency.
"We have called on the ECI and expressed serious concern over the situation prevailing in Kashmir. It is the duty of the state government to create a conducive atmosphere and appropriate security environment for the conduct of free, fair and successful electoral exercise," J&K Congress president Gulam Ahmed Mir said.
Mir led a joint delegation of senior leaders of Congress and National Conference to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in New Delhi, and apprised it of their experience and the role of the state government during the campaigning, besides discussing the overall situation in the valley, especially in Anantnag.

"The state government (of PDP-BJP coalition) has utterly failed in its duty to ensure a conducive atmosphere for the polls. It has played a partisan role during the campaigning.
"We have submitted a memorandum highlighting the failures and role of the present government. We have urged the Commission to take all necessary and adequate measures to instill confidence among voters, especially among the Opposition," J&K Congress chief said.
The delegation apprised the Commission about the hardships faced by the Opposition during campaigning, especially in Anantnag constituency.
They also regretted that the contesting candidates and the Opposition parties were not taken on board while deferring and rescheduling polling for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat to May 25.

The delegation comprised Mubarak Gul (former Speaker) and former ministers-- Nawang Rizin Jora, Aijaz Ahmad Khan, G M Saroori, Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, Mohd Amin Bhat, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, Showket Hussain Ganie and Thakur Balbir Singh.