Farooq Abdullah of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party on Saturday demanded that governor’s rule be imposed after he was reportedly leading by 10,776 votes over the Peoples Democratic Party’s Nazir Ahmad Khan. Counting began early on Saturday morning. Violence had marred voting in the constituency on April 9, forcing the Election Commission to postpone the Anantnag bye-election to May 25.
“I appeal to the Governor and the President of India to dismiss this government and impose Governor’s rule in the state where the people will get some respite and feel that such situation will not arise again,” Abdullah said.
Besides Abdullah and Khan, seven others had contested for the seat. The first bye-poll, held on April 9, had drawn only 7.14% of the electorate, but an even lower number of people – 2% – had voted in the re-poll held in Srinagar’s Budgam on Thursday.
Calling it the “bloodiest election ever”, Abdullah thanked voters and said the “results showed that people are in favour of the National Conference”. Abdullah said the elections to the Anantnag Parliamentary seat should be held under governor’s rule.
Eight people had died in clashes during the polling, with separatists calling for a boycott of the election and a shutdown in the region.
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