With four days to go the Anantnag by-polls —necessitated by the death of former chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in January — the constituency witnessed hectic campaigning on Saturday.
While Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate Mehbooba Mufti sought votes on the development plank, the Congress was busy taking on Ms. Mufti over her alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“We have started picking up threads from where we left in 2005 to revive the process of political reconciliation and economic rejuvenation to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the State and its people,” said Ms. Mufti in a series of roadside election in Anantnag.
The BJP, which has not fielded any candidate, is campaigning for Ms. Mufti.
Congress harps on RSS However, Ms. Mufti’s opponents, the Congress and the National Conference (NC), have made the PDP’s alliance with the BJP the central poll focus of their campaigns.
“Supporting the PDP amounts to strengthening the RSS and people should defeat the PDP for facilitating the RSS establishment in the State,” said J&K Pradesh Congress Committe chief G.A. Mir at his poll rally at Mir Danter in Kehribal.
Hizbul Mujahideen boycott call Several localities of the Anantnag constituency on Saturday had Hizbul Mujahideen posters asking people to stay away from the upcoming polls. The posters also quoted Islam and Quranic verses calling for an Islamic system in the State.
“Those who will not pay heed to this message will be responsible for the consequences,” the posters said.
