J&K Reports 51% Voting in 5th Phase of DDC Polls, Kashmir 34%

Rajwara: In North Kashmir’s Bala Wadura, a distant village in Handwara dotted with conifers and wooden huts, some 100 km from Srinagar, locals --  bereft of basic amenities like water, electricity and proper roads -- have lined up at the polling booth to cast their vote in the District Development Council (DDC) polls.

With about 300 households, there are over 900 votes in the area and the villagers are optimistic about the outcome of the ongoing elections. “We have been neglected for decades, this is for the first time we are hoping to get a representation,” a local Sonaullah said.

The area is close to Line of Control (LoC) right ahead of the Bungus Valley, a popular tourist sub-valley, but the roads in the village, according to locals, have never been macadamised. “All my life I have never seen proper roads in my village,” 31-year-old Altaf Ahmad told NewsClick.

The fifth phase of DDC polls, the first major electoral exercise being held in the Union territory since the abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent downsizing of J&K into two Union territories, was held here on Thursday. The Union territory witnessed 51.2% voting today with 66.67% recorded in Jammu and 33.57% in Kashmir valley.

The highest polling percentage was reported at 70.95 in Doda district of Jammu while as the lowest polling was witnessed in Shopian at 5.52 . In Kashmir valley Bandipora witnessed the highest voting at 56.40%. The North Kashmir’s border district of Kupwara reported 52.35% polling.

Another polling station in Kupwara’s Payeen Wadura village of Handwara also witnessed long queues throughout the day after locals walked on these dirt tracks hoping for what they refer to as new “beginning.” There is a local independent candidate Aijaz Mir in the fray which has given the locals a hope in the DDC polls.

“The mainstream parties have always given priority to different area. We have seen influential leaders and they have betrayed us for years now we want to give a chance to someone close to the ground,” a voter said.

In these North Kashmir areas, Sajad Lone-led People’s Conference (PC), which is a part of the People’s Alliance of Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), holds a significant sway. The locals, however, say the alliance, formed for the restoration of Article 370 and 35 A and to thwart Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the elections, are caught in “infighting”. “In many of the DDC constituencies there are PAGD parties fighting each other,” locals allege.

But in Lachipora, several young voters are concerned with the situation in Kashmir. They have come to participate in the polls not because of the lack of development in their villages but, to extend support to PAGD against BJP and its last year’s 370 move.

“I am casting my first ever vote as I am worried about the situation in Kashmir. The BJP has carried out many measures against us like the revocation of 370 and recent land laws. If the leaders unite to fight for Kashmir whether they are from the mainstream or even the separatist camp, the people should also extend their support,” a local Dr Shameem told NewsClick.

The voting concluded without any major incident of violence except in South Kashmir’s Kulgam area where suspected militants hurled a grenade on government forces in Nehama area. There were, however, no loss of lives or injuries reported. 

Journalists ‘Attacked’

Meanwhile, three journalists were reportedly thrashed in South Kashmir’s Srigufwara area by personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police while they were covering the polls. The journalists – Fayaz Lolu, Junaid Rafiq and Mudasir Qadri – were also detained for over an hour in the local police station. The policemen were led by SSP Anantnag Sandeep Chaudhary, who according to a statement by the Kashmir Press Club (KPC), also seized the equipment of media personnel.

“We hope strict action is taken against those found guilty in this act perpetrated in utter disregard of the freedom of the press,” the statement said. The KPC also urged the Chief Electoral Officer to “take note of such incidents and initiate action against the concerned police official.”

Jammu: Bad Roads a Key Issue

In the fifth phase of DDC polls, which took place today, 37 constituencies went to polls from across Jammu and Kashmir. Out of 144 candidates, including 40 females were in fray for the 20 constituencies spread across 10 districts of Jammu division.

On the ground, BJP is facing strong opposition from joint candidates launched by PAGD and National Panthers Party in Jammu.

Doda district, once again, witnessed stiff competition between Former BJP Minister Shakti Raj Parihar and Asim Hasim, a joint candidate from Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). Whereas, in Khoon constituency of Udhampur district, there is a close fight between National Panthers Party (NPP) chairman, Harshdev Singh’s wife Manju Singh and wife of former MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania, Juhi Manhas. In Majalta, other constituency of Udhampur, the main contest was between National Panthers Party and BJP.

In Jammu district, Mandal Phallian and Miran Sahib witnessed polling today. Akriti Raina, 21, who had to walk dilapidated muddy road to reach Government Boys Higher Secondary school in Miran Sahib, to cast her vote, says that her vote is for development of her area. 

“See the conditions of the road. If I have come to vote today it is for the better conditions of these roads.” Akriti is accompanied by her sister Prakriti who asks where is vikas (development)?

“Leaders come to us, saying vikas aayega. Where is vikas? We are voting with a hope that this vote will translate into development of rural areas. We don’t care about political parties but those who listen to us and do something on the ground.”

(additional reporting by Sagrika Kissu in Jammu)