Lok Sabha election 2019: Polling to be held in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag

The election commissioner also made it clear that the assembly elections to the state will not be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.The state has been under President’s Rule since December, and under Governor’s rule since June.

Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir will witness polling in three phases due to security reasons, chief election commissioner Sunil Arora said on Sunday.

India's Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora gestures while speaking to the media during a news conference in New Delhi, India, March 10, 2019. (REUTERS PHOTO)

Close to Anantnag, in Awantipora district, a suicide bomb attack had killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14 when a Jaish operative rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying them.

The Indian Air Force had carried out an air strike on a terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot, triggering a political war, the government had said.

There have been several encounters between militants and security forces in nearby areas.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had won the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 elections.

Elections for the six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases.

The election commissioner also made it clear that the assembly elections to the state will not be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.

The state has been under President’s Rule since December, and under Governor’s rule since June, when BJP withdrew support to the coalition government with PDP.

The counting of votes will be held on May 23 along with those of all constituencies in the country.