Srinagar byepoll: Election Commission orders repolling in 38 poll booths on April 13

SRINAGAR: Repolling was ordered in 38 polling booths of Srinagar by the Election Commission. The voting will be held on April 13.

Polling will be conducted between 7 AM to 4 PM on Thursday, amid heightened security. The decision was taken after Election Commission found that voting was not conducted under free and fair circumstances in these polling booths on April 9.

The repolling is expected to marginally improve the voter turnout rate of Srinagar bye-election. In the polls held on Sunday, only 7.14 per cent voting was recorded.

The polling percentage was lowest ever in the past 30 years. Apart from the dismal voter turnout, nearly 200 instances of violence broke out in the poll-bound region.

8 protesters lost their lives in retaliatory action by the security forces. Following the unsuccessful polling, Election Commission and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) traded charges against each other.

According to reports, MHA had recommended the polling body to defer the both – Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha bye-elections to a date after the panchayat elections conclude in the state.

However, the EC remained firm about its poll preparation in both the seats. Considering the failed electoral process in Srinagar, MHA reported recommended EC to defer the Anantnag bypoll which was slated to be held on April 12. The bye-election for the Lok Sabha seat has been postponed to May 25.