Leaders, militants seek to boycott Anantnag polls

SRINAGAR: Kashmir’s pro-freedom leadership and militants have urged people to stay away from polling on June 22 in Anantnag district in the southern part of the state from where J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti has sought decisive mandate from people.

The opposition Congress and National Conference have also amplified the attack on PDP accusing them of using ‘money power’ and ‘government resources’ to lure voters. Besides, the two parties repeatedly remind electorate of PDP’s ‘unholy’ alliance with BJP.

The J&K CM is fighting assembly by-elections from Anantnag constituency, which fell vacant after the death of her father Mufti Sayeed in January. The byelections are crucial, as Mufti has to get elected to either of the two houses in J&K assembly within six months of her swearing in as CM of the state. Congress candidate Hilal Shah considered a strong contender, got parliament member, Raj Babbar, to campaign for him across Anantnag district.

“You cannot vote for people who joined hands with communal people who killed muslims in Gujarat. PDP has betrayed people of this peace loving state,” said Babbar, while addressing rallies in different villages of Anantnag. In 2014 assembly elections former chief minister Mufti Sayeed won Anantnag assembly constituency getting 16983 votes while the runner up from Congress, Hilal Shah, got 10955 votes. The constituency has 83574 qualified voters. Last week, Congress and NC staged a walkout from the J&K Assembly accusing PDP of distributing money to voters and distributing sugar from ration depots.