ANN News Impact; Srinagar Mayoral polls on November 25

ANN News Desk

Srinagar, Nov 19: The government on Thursday issued a notification for conduct of polls to mayoral post in Srinagar on November 25. As per the notification the results would be declared the same day.

As per the notification issued by Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the polls will be held on 25 November, this year, at 11am.

However, not happy with the development, acting Srinagar Mayor Parvaiz Qadri has decided to write a protest letter to election commission as how Mayoral polls can be held when Code of Conduct is in force.

Sources said that Qadri is likely to approach the court for getting the scheduled mayoral polls stayed.

ANN News has been regularly highlighted as how Srinagar city is suffering in absence of Mayor and people have been demanding for holding of the polls to the vacant seat.

Some regional parties are likely to also protest against the announcing of mayoral polls as People’s Alliance of Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has decided to contest ULD and DDC polls. PAGD was also likely to make a claim over mayoral post subsequently.

Taking eh cognizance of ANN News reports, the government decided to hold the polls, said an official.

Meanwhile, J&K Youth Democratic Party (YDP) president Sahil Bashir Bhat has welcomed the announcement. “We expect that the new elected mayor would work towards to development and progress of Srinagar,” he has said.

On June 17, Junaid Azim Mattu was removed as Srinagar Mayor after he lost the no-confidence motion that was moved against him by an independent Councilor of the SMC.

The voting was held amid the boycott by Congress and National Conference. Some independent councilors also abstained from the voting.

Forty-one councilors including deputy Mayor had attended the special session that was summoned in the wake of the motion.

All 40 councilors voted against Mattu while Deputy Mayor who was presiding over the session was only required to vote in case of a tie.

Soon after the voting, National Conference expelled four of its councilors from basic membership of the party for refusing to comply with the party instructions and voting during the no-confidence motion against Mattu.

In December 2019 also, a no-confidence motion was moved against Mattu which was supported by BJP. However, Mattu had successfully proved the numbers on the floor that time.

On 23 December 2019, Deputy Mayor Sheikh Imran was also removed from the post after he lost the floor test, with majority of councilors voting against him.