ghulam-nabi-azad-welcomes-ec-s-decision-to-postpone-polls-in-anantnag-rajouri-constituency

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairperson Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to postpone polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency and said this has relieved several political parties.

 

Azad emphasised the importance of the assembly elections over parliamentary elections stating it is very important to have a legislative assembly and legislators put in place through polls.

 

“It is never too late. The decision of the Election Commission of India has relieved us. I thank the ECI for taking this right decision. All political parties will benefit from the decision. Actually, all parties are happy,” he told the media.

 

Azad, who is on campaign trial in Rajouri for his party’s candidate Mohammad Saleem pitted in triangular contest with PDP's Mehbooba Mufti and NC's Mian Altaf on Anantnag-Rajouri seat, pointed out that the Election Commission should have scheduled polling in this constituency for the sixth or seventh phase.

 

He explained that this circumstance led him and other political parties to write a letter to the Election Commission, requesting the postponement of elections until the Mughal road is reopened.

 

Regarding the impact on the Nomadic community's ability to vote, Azad said, “There will be no effect on the Nomadic community in terms of exercising their franchise. They generally move to upper reaches in June as the hills are covered by snow as of now. By then, we will even get the results and the government would also be formed.”

 

Taking a swipe at the Congress, Azad said, “It is not the first time someone has raised questions on EVMs. Several parties have raised questions on EVMs. Debates were held in the Parliament on it. The court and the ECI have deemed them the right ones.”

 

“When the Congress and regional parties win, then EVMs are right and they are wrong at the time of their defeat,” he added.

 

Azad emphasized the importance of the assembly elections over the Lok Sabha polls and said “it is very important for us to have a legislative assembly and legislators put in place through elections”.

 

He said that in a first, Jammu and Kashmir will get a joint MP after delimitation.