Waits & Watches situation for Election Commission

May take call on Srinagar by poll today if flood-like situation persists

As flood-like situation prevails in Kashmir due to heavy rain, the Election Commission has not ruled out the possibility of postponing the byelection to the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency which is scheduled on Sunday.
However, the Election Commission will take a final call tomorrow if the flood-like situation persists.
“So far there is no change. We are waiting and watching the situation,” J&K Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu told Kashmir Post. “If the situation persists, we may take a call tomorrow.”
However, election officials in Srinagar are hopeful of conducting elections as the meteorological department has predicted an improvement in the conditions from Friday.
“We are fully geared up for the polls and all preparations are in place. As the weatherman has predicted improvement in weather, we are hopeful to conduct elections smoothly,” District Election Officer, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmed Lone said.
While the election staff has been asked to report on April 8, the immediate challenging task for the authorities will be to dispatch poll staff and election material to the areas badly hit by the continuous rain, that has created a flood-like situation in three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal that form the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The situation is quite similar in four districts of south Kashmir that form the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, that goes to polls on April 12.
The already low-key election campaigning in Srinagar and Anantnag has been hit by the bad weather.
“The last day for campaigning in Srinagar is Friday, but I think today was the last day for the canvassing practically as there is always tension on Fridays. Separatists have called for protests tomorrow,” said a lower-rung National Conference leader. “However, we conducted some meetings,” he added.
In Srinagar, political heavyweight Farooq Abdullah, who is the joint candidate of the National Conference and the Congress is up against PDP’s Nazir Ahmad Khan.
In Anantnag, Tassaduq Mufti, brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, is in a direct contest with J&K Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

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