Jammu & Kashmir: Second phase of District Development Council elections recorded 48.62% voting

Srinagar: The second phase of the District Development Council elections recorded around 48.62% voting across J&K with Kashmir Valley reporting 33.34% and the Jammu division witnessing 65.54%.
The second phase of elections witnessed a slight dip compared to the first, which had recorded around 52% voting with Kashmir recording around 39% and Jammu around 64.77%.

There were no major violent incidents as the administration had put in place elaborate security arrangements.

In this phase, the highest voting percentage in Kashmir was recorded in Bandipora district of northern Kashmir at 69%, while Pulwama of southern Kashmir recorded the lowest percentage at 8.67%. In Jammu division, the highest percentage was recorded from Poonch at 75.07%, while the lowest was recorded in Rajpouri at 60.21%.

State Election Commissioner KK Sharma, while addressing media-Jammu & Kashmir:persons in Kashmir, said the voting percentages were encouraging compared to the previous elections.

“The slight dip in Kashmir compared to the first phase could be due to topographical reasons. DDC elections are important for grassroots development and we hope people will participate in the upcoming phases,” Sharma said.

Voters in Kashmir complained about under development of the region which, they claim, has only aggravated after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

“We are just hoping against the hope that this exercise will be of some help. Otherwise, we have just witnessed hollow promises for the past 70 years,” Ali Muhammad Dar (62) of Dangerpora told ET. He said neither the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration nor the BJP offer any solution. “Abrogation of Article 370 has pushed us back into the pre-1947 era,” he said.

According to a local, Javed Ahmad of Panzinara on the outskirts of Srinagar, one of the main reasons for the turnout was that the candidates are from the same localities contrary to assembly or parliament elections. “People feel obliged to vote for their acquaintances,” he said.

The DDC elections and panchayat by-polls are being held in eight phases from November 28 till December 19. Counting will be on December 22. The main fight in the DDC elections is between the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, BJP and Apni Party.