The Election Commission has cancelled the parliamentary by-election in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag, scheduled for May 25, citing security problems. The Commission said that political parties had requested it to defer the Anantnag by-poll due to the prevailing law and order in the state. The poll body also said that the state government had written to it, saying that separatists and other elements had launched a campaign against the participation of the public in the election.