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Kashmiris defy Geelani's boycott call, 1st
phase J&K panchayat poll records 78%
turnout
Apr 14, 2011, 01.26pm IST TNN [ Randeep
Singh Nandal ]
SRINAGAR: First-time
panchayat election
contestant Farida Bano (40)
was tense at the start of the
polling on Wednesday
morning. But her confidence
grew as the number of
voters swelled outside a
polling booth in Budgam
district's Sheikhpura village.
By 10 am 28% voters had
voted.
Farida is one of the four
women contesting the first
phase of the elections in the
area. She said brisk voting awed her a little.
"I am nervous but this is good. I want to
serve my village and think I will do a good
job if given a chance," she said.
The voters came out in droves elsewhere in
the Valley and 78% turnout was recorded at
the end of the day. The turnout was even
better than the historic 2008 assembly polls
when over 65% people had voted despite
boycott calls.
"Across five blocks in the Valley and three in
Jammu, 78% of the eligible voters cast their
ballot. It has been a good day," said state
election commissioner D R Sharma.
The day passed off peacefully despite
militant threats of enforcing a boycott.
Terrorists targeted several political activists
in the run up to the polls. There were stray
reports of Lashkar-e-Taiba posters warning
people against voting. But Kupwara
believed to be a militant hub in north
Kashmir recorded 86% turnout.
Bijli-sadak-pani issue seemed to have won
over boycott calls. "These elections are
good. It shall mean that more money is
coming straight to the village. It means
more development for us and would cut out
the government middlemen," said a voter.
"This election is not about the Kashmir
problem. It is a vote for development at the
grassroots," said another father of two
waiting to vote at Sheikhpura.
Panchayat elections will be completed in 16
phases across Jammu & Kashmir. No
electronic voting machines would be used
as the state Panchayati Raj Act allows only
old-fashioned paper ballots.
Observers said the state government's ploy
of holding the elections on a non- party
basis seemed to have worked in its favour.
People largely ignored separatist leader
Syed Ali Shah Geelani's boycott call.
"This is the first real Panchayat election in
the state in 33 years, the last one in 2001
was only on paper, half the seats remained
empty," chief minister Omar Abdullah
tweeted.
phase J&K panchayat poll records 78%
turnout
Apr 14, 2011, 01.26pm IST TNN [ Randeep
Singh Nandal ]
SRINAGAR: First-time
panchayat election
contestant Farida Bano (40)
was tense at the start of the
polling on Wednesday
morning. But her confidence
grew as the number of
voters swelled outside a
polling booth in Budgam
district's Sheikhpura village.
By 10 am 28% voters had
voted.
Farida is one of the four
women contesting the first
phase of the elections in the
area. She said brisk voting awed her a little.
"I am nervous but this is good. I want to
serve my village and think I will do a good
job if given a chance," she said.
The voters came out in droves elsewhere in
the Valley and 78% turnout was recorded at
the end of the day. The turnout was even
better than the historic 2008 assembly polls
when over 65% people had voted despite
boycott calls.
"Across five blocks in the Valley and three in
Jammu, 78% of the eligible voters cast their
ballot. It has been a good day," said state
election commissioner D R Sharma.
The day passed off peacefully despite
militant threats of enforcing a boycott.
Terrorists targeted several political activists
in the run up to the polls. There were stray
reports of Lashkar-e-Taiba posters warning
people against voting. But Kupwara
believed to be a militant hub in north
Kashmir recorded 86% turnout.
Bijli-sadak-pani issue seemed to have won
over boycott calls. "These elections are
good. It shall mean that more money is
coming straight to the village. It means
more development for us and would cut out
the government middlemen," said a voter.
"This election is not about the Kashmir
problem. It is a vote for development at the
grassroots," said another father of two
waiting to vote at Sheikhpura.
Panchayat elections will be completed in 16
phases across Jammu & Kashmir. No
electronic voting machines would be used
as the state Panchayati Raj Act allows only
old-fashioned paper ballots.
Observers said the state government's ploy
of holding the elections on a non- party
basis seemed to have worked in its favour.
People largely ignored separatist leader
Syed Ali Shah Geelani's boycott call.
"This is the first real Panchayat election in
the state in 33 years, the last one in 2001
was only on paper, half the seats remained
empty," chief minister Omar Abdullah
tweeted.
