As security forces brace themselves for the repoll in Srinagar, seven candidates declared on Wednesday that they would boycott it.
“It’s not election but selection. People are being fooled with such exercises. We appeal to the people not to cast their ballots. We don’t intend to allow our brothers to die. The April 9 incidents were unfortunate,” said Mirza Sajad, candidate of the Rashtriya Jankranti Party (RJP).
Eight persons were killed in firing and several more injured in violent clashes during the byelections to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Sunday. The voter turnout too was an abysmal 7.14 per cent.