JAMMU, April 26: Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina stated on Friday that the party would honor any decision made by the Election Commission regarding the potential postponement of polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, following concerns raised by certain candidates about adverse weather conditions.
“It is a democracy. As citizens of this country, we respect the Election Commission. If the Election Commission decides to defer elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, we will respect their decision,” Raina told reporters in Jammu.
Raina highlighted challenges faced by candidates due to the closure of the Mughal road connecting Kashmir with the Rajouri-Poonch region, with only two candidates able to file nominations from this area compared to the majority from the valley.
He pointed out that leaders like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti would encounter difficulties in campaigning due to the closure of the road between Anantnag and Rajouri-Poonch caused by snowfall and landslides.
Raina emphasized that the BJP is not involved in the Election Commission’s decision-making process regarding this matter and addressed criticisms directed at the party by Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
Regarding the failure of candidates to file nomination papers due to the road closure, Raina noted that 25 candidates submitted forms for this seat, with 23 from Kashmir and only two from Rajouri-Poonch.
Abdullah and Mufti had appealed to the Election Commission against postponing polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, responding to the Election Commission’s inquiry into representations from parties and candidates seeking rescheduling of elections due to adverse weather conditions, including snowfall on the Mughal road.
