Shocking! Mehbooba Mufti Claims Poll Rigging in Anantnag-Rajouri Seat!

Mehbooba Mufti Claims Poll Rigging in Anantnag–Rajouri Seat: 'PDP Workers Detained'

Anantnag Police Statement on Detentions

Anantnag Police stated that only a few people were detained. They targeted individuals with a history of wrongdoing, based on information about possible security threats on polling day.

Mehbooba Mufti's Allegations on May 25

On Saturday, May 25, Mehbooba Mufti of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party claimed that her party workers and polling agents are being held in police stations "without any reason." She also said they are receiving complaints about attempts to "tamper with the EVMs."

Mehbooba Mufti's Protest Amid Voting

Mehbooba Mufti, a candidate from the Anantnag–Rajouri Lok Sabha seat in South Kashmir, is protesting with party leaders and workers while voting is ongoing.

Mehbooba Mufti's Allegations on Phone Service Suspension

The PDP president also claimed that her outgoing calls have been suspended without any explanation.

"I have not been able to make any calls since morning. There is no reason given for this sudden suspension of services on the polling day in the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency," Mehbooba Mufti told news agency PTI.

The PDP also highlighted the issue in a post on X.

"Just before the polls, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti's @MehboobaMufti phone service was suddenly cut off. Last night and early this morning, many PDP workers and polling agents were detained across the polling area," the PDP wrote.

Mehbooba Mufti's Letter to Election Commission

On Friday, Mehbooba Mufti wrote to the Election Commission, claiming that PDP workers and polling agents were detained by the police.

"Many of our PDP polling agents and workers are being detained just before voting. When families went to the police stations, they were told it was done at the behest of SSP Anantnag and DIG South Kashmir. We've written to @ECISVEEP hoping for their timely intervention," the PDP chief said in a post on X.

However, Anantnag Police stated that detentions are very few and limited to those with a tainted past, based on credible inputs of potential threats to law and order and security on polling day.

“Claims were made by a political party that their workers have been detained. Firstly, detentions are very few and restricted only to those who have a tainted past and based on credible inputs of potential threats to law and order and security on polling day. Mostly, they are OGWs and are taken into preventive custody to ensure a safe and peaceful election,” the Anantnag Police wrote.

Anantnag-Rajouri Constituency Election Details

Mehbooba Mufti is contesting against National Conference (NC) candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad. Zafar Iqbal Manhas of the Apni Party is also in the race, making it a triangular contest.

Earlier, the Election Commission rescheduled the polling date in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency from May 7 to May 25 after receiving requests to change the date due to issues with "logistics, communication, and natural barriers of connectivity."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not announced any candidate for any of the three seats in Kashmir, including Anantnag-Rajouri. In 2019, NC's Hasnain Masoodi narrowly defeated Mufti by over 6,000 votes.

This is the first general election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Voting has already concluded in Jammu, Baramulla, Srinagar, and Udhampur.