In April last year, eight people were killed in firing by security forces in election-day violence that marred the by-poll for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. The voter turnout was an all-time low of 7.14 per cent. A month later, mere 2 per cent turnout was witnessed in the re-polling held in 38 polling stations. It was the lowest percentage in the state’s history. No votes were polled in Khansahib Assembly segment while only three votes were cast in Budgam segment.
The Srinagar by-election, however, painted a very pale picture of the conduction election in the Valley. The case of Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was the worst. Mehbooba Mufti vacated this seat in June 2016 to become the chief minister. In the 2017 by-election, her brother Tassaduq Hussain contested the election as the PDP candidate. The by-election was cancelled a day before polling due to violence. With the law and order situation on a downward spiral, the EC has not been able to hold the by-poll till date.
With that the by-poll in Anantnag has been delayed for the longest time in the country since 1996. With less than a year left for the next general elections, there is every possibility of it continuing to stay vacant until then.
In early 2018, the EC decided to take stock of the situation depending on if the state holds panachayat elections and how peacefully they fare. However, with the state unable to conduct elections to local bodies till date, the possibility of holding the by-poll grew dim. As late as on April 17, 2018, governor Vohra came out with a third reminder to then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti for holding elections to the urban local bodies and panchayats in state, which have been pending for eight and two years respectively.
The panchayat elections were last held in the state in April-May 2011 while urban local bodies elections were last held in January 2005.
These examples clearly suggest that the situation in the state at present is not conducive for a free and fair election.
