PDP Workers Polling Agents Being Asked to Report to Police Stations Ahead of Voting: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar, May 25 (WD) — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti alleged on Friday that polling agents and workers of her party are being asked to report to police stations ahead of the voting for the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.
Mufti is contesting the election from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, which is scheduled to go to polls on Saturday. She voiced her concerns on X, stating, “PDP polling agents and workers both are being asked to report to local police stations. Why are the people of South Kashmir being punished for showing their faith in democracy?
Meanwhile, the PDP has appealed to the Election Commission for urgent intervention to ensure free and fair elections. In a letter to the chief election commissioner, the party highlighted “a grave matter that threatens the integrity” of the polls, requesting immediate attention.
The letter alleged that the police in Anantnag, Shopian, and Kulgam have started a campaign of terror against PDP polling agents. It mentioned that numerous agents have been forcibly taken from their residences or summoned to police stations, where they are being held in illegal confinement.
The PDP further claimed that, especially in Anantnag district, their workers are being “threatened and harassed” to deter them from voting. This systematic targeting of PDP agents suggests a deliberate attempt by the state administration to undermine the democratic process, they said.
The party accused the state administration of acting on behalf of candidates contesting as proxies for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to ensure PDP’s defeat. This, they argued, compromises the fairness of the electoral process.
The PDP has called on the Election Commission to instruct the state police to release all detained polling agents immediately. They also urged that no further “hindrances” be created by the state administration that could affect the conduct of free and fair elections.
The situation in South Kashmir remains tense as the PDP continues to raise these serious allegations. The party’s appeal for intervention highlights the broader concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in this volatile region.
