Voting in Kashmir at 31.61%, Jammu registers 68.8%

Sangrama: In the third phase of District Development Council Elections, around 50.53% voting was recorded across J&K on Friday, with Kashmir recording 31.61% votes and Jammu recorded 68.88%.
The polling took place peacefully in all areas except, in Kokernag of southern Kashmir, where unidentified gunmen fired at one DDC candidate Anees ul Islam from J&K Apni Party, who was injured but is stable now. The Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari has demanded an inquiry into the incident and urged the administration to ensure adequate security measures for the safety of the candidates.

In Kashmir, the highest voting was reported from Kulgam of southern Kashmir at 64.45% and lowest was reported from Pulwama of southern Kashmir with 10.87%. In Jammu, Reasi recorded highest 75.20%, while Doda recorded lowest at 59.51%.

The voters continued to express concerns over unemployment and lack of development in several areas. “Nobody has paid heed to development in our area. We are still struggling to ensure road and electricity facility,” said Parvez Ahmad Lone, 45, a contractor and political worker from Wagoora area of northern Kashmir. Lone says that the government should ensure protection of jobs and land for the people of J&K.

In Wagoora, a reserved seat for women, four candidates were in fray in the elections. Here PAGD candidate from National Conference candidate Shaheena is faced competition from Safina Baig, wife of former Lok Sabha member Muzaffar Baig, who recently resigned from the People’s Democratic Party. The PDP is a constituent of the PAGD. Safina is herself member of the PDP but is fighting as an independent candidate, exposing the fault lines and cracks within the PAGD.

Similarly, in Sangrama area, PAGD’s candidate Suhail Bukhari, who is from PDP, faced competition from an independent candidate, who is internally supported by National Conference, also a constituent of PAGD. This internal rivalry within PAGD might help Shoaib Lone, a former legislator from Apni Party in this constituency.

“(Gupkar) Alliance is just an entity on media, here on ground everything happens on party basis,” said Ghulam Rasool Dhobi, 80, who claims to have voted to end nepotism and traditional corruption in the political system. A group of youngsters in Sangrama, complained of non-existence of a play ground and proper drainage system in the area.