KASHMIR: The first phase of polling for Jammu and Kashmir’s District Development Council (DDC) elections was successfully conducted. always going to be the real test. The result seems quite fascinating as the over 51 percent turnout is recorded despite braving sub-zero temperatures, a large number of women and men came out to vote, say the state election commission.
At Kralpora in Kupwara district, a constituency reserved for women, nine women candidates were in the contest and drew many woman voters to polling booths.
“We are getting a good response. Despite extreme cold in the areas, people are coming out to vote and they come out of their free will. We couldn’t carry outdoor-to-door campaigning because of the very limited time and covid-19 pandemic, yet people are coming out,” said a candidate.
This is the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, and the special status and statehood in August last year. In 2018, panchayat and local body elections were boycotted by regional parties. However, all mainstream political forces are fighting the DDC election jointly as a part of ‘Gupkar Alliance’.
The voters were of the opinion that development is needed to be done and we are happy that it has reflected after August 2019 as the government seems pretty serious in doing for its people, however, the political ideology is also at core to the voting choices.