By-Polls in Kashmir's Anantnag was pushed back to May 25.
Why was it postponed?
Violence by political protesters during the by-election in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, resulted in one polling station set afire and temporarily shut down of many.
This further resulted in the lowest-ever voter turnout of around 7%.
Hence the Election Commission put off the by-election in Anantnag.
EC ignored the Union Home Ministry’s say on the condition of Kashmir Valley.
Though not consulting Union Government for Lok Sabha By-election is a right move, it left the security forces unprepared for the scale of violence, and failed to ensure conditions for free, unrestricted polling.
Why low voter turn-out?
Recent years recorded a higher voter participation in in the Valley.
The current situation is indicative of a dramatic slide in the political situation.
The killing of Burhan Wani, a ‘commander’ of the Hizbul Mujahideen, by security forces in July last year set off a new cycle of violence in Kashmir.
Subsequent violence resulted in tremendous alienation of people and the youth are up in arms.
In these circumstances, by-elections may have no political meaning.
In general election, a change of government is possible.
It is not the case in the by-election, so it does not interest voters.
Protesters find it easier to disrupt the polling process in a by-election.
Therefore for voters, the political stakes are low and the physical risks high.
What should be done?
Free re-polling in all the booths that witnessed violence should be done.
Re-polling in Srinagar too should be put off by a few weeks.
Kashmiris should also be provided a larger political motivation to go to the polling booths, a belief that their vote will count for something.
