Election Commission cancels Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll, says ground situation not conducive

The Election Commission has once again cancelled the Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll, saying the ground situation is not conducive to hold free and fair elections.

New Delhi: Amid growing tensions in the Kashmir Valley, the Election Commission of India on Tuesday rescinded its notification issued for Anantnag bypoll which was scheduled to be held on May 25, ''till further notice."

The poll body issued a statement in which it said that ''the ground situation is not conducive to hold free and fair elections.''

Importantly, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Narinder Nath Vohra is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh later today to discuss the situation in the Kashmir Valley.

The poll panel had earlier postponed the bypoll, slated to be held on April 12, for May 25 due to poor law and order situation.

In an order issued late on Monday night, the Election Commission said non-availability of sufficient number of security personnel was another reason to cancel the poll process.

The 10-page order said that a fresh date would be announced later.

With PTI inputs