NC rebounds, wants Rae Bareli set-up for Anantnag

The National Conference (NC) today said it would go ahead with the contest in Anantnag as the Election Commission has assured it would look into the allegations against PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Yesterday, NC said it would boycott the remaining phase of polls if the EC did not heed its complaint.

The NC has alleged that Mehbooba flouted poll norms by barging into a polling booth and humiliating a woman voter by lifting her veil, claiming she was a bogus voter. The woman, a genuine voter, left without voting due to the harassment. The incident was beamed live by a private TV channel, landing Mehbooba in the dock.

‘‘The EC has responded to our complaints and has assured that they would look into the matter and not allow such activities in other phases,’’ NC chief Omar Abdullah said.

The NC has raised fears of Mehbooba misusing the official set-up at Anantnag from where she is contesting, to pull off a victory. ‘‘To ensure fair and smooth polling at Anantnag, EC should take a leaf from Rai Bareli where at the request of Priyanka Gandhi, EC applied these rules. Only central security agencies should enforce the guidelines as we have no trust in local police,’’ NC president Omar Abdullah said today.