‘Votes would be counted on April 15’
Srinagar, Mar 09 (KNS): The Election Commission of India today announced that by-polls for two Parliament seats in the Kashmir Valley will be held in the second week of April.
“Srinagar and Anantnag parliament seats would go to polls on April 9 and 12 respectively,” Election Commission of India said today in a statement released to media.
“Votes would be counted on April 15. Gazette notification for by-polls to Srinagar would be issued on March 14 and Anantnag on March 17,” the ECI said.
“Last dates for filing nominations for Srinagar and Anantnag is March 21 and 24 respectively,” it said.
Anantnag and Srinagar Parliament seats fell vacant after the resignation of PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti when she took over as chief minister after her father Mufti Sayeed’s death in December 2015 and Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra respectively.
Owing to 2016 summer uprising, the elections Anantnag seat had to be deferred, and following Karra’s resignation ECI decided to held the by-polls for the two seats together.
KNS on Wednesday has reported that ECI would announce notification for holding by-polls in these two Parliament seats within two days.
Chief Electoral Officer Jammu and Kashmir, Shantmanu, had on Wednesday told KNS that the preparations for holding by-polls have been completed.
The CEC had recently held meeting with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioners to review polls preparedness and security arrangements in the valley for smooth conducting of polls.
Shantmanu said that elections for panchayats will be held after parliament elections are completed. (KNS)