In the first electoral exercise in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, nearly 52 percent voter turnout was recorded on Saturday in the staggered polls to district development councils. Reasi in Jammu recorded the highest voter turnout of 74.62 percent while Pulwama in south Kashmir witnessed the least voter participation at 6.7 percent.
For the first time since the abrogation of Article 370, District Development Council (DDC) polls saw return of the major electoral exercise in Kashmir for a triangular contest being fought for “development” versus “restoration”.
Several voters in Ganderbal district on Saturday said that the DDC polls are to elect people who can solve basic problems and “bigger issues” like restoration of special status should be left for assembly and parliamentary elections.
COVID guidelines were flouted at some polling stations in the valley and excitement overtook precautions as enthusiastic voters jostled with each other to cast their ballot.
A resident of the remote Kota Top village at over 11,000 feet in Doda district, 103-year-old Zaitona Bibi on Saturday said she has never missed casting her vote since 1957 and this DDC election was no different.
Cold weather conditions prevailed in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday with Gulmarg tourist resort in the Valley being the coldest place at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, the meteorological department said.
At least four people succumbed to coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, raising the number of virus related fatalities in the Union Territory to 1680.
Amid the ongoing tensions between India and China, the government has deployed the Marine Commandos (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy in the Pangong lake area in eastern Ladakh.
Voting for the first phase of the maiden District Development Council (DDC) election in Jammu and Kashmir began on Saturday, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir is all set to witness its first elections since being reorganised as a union territory last year with the maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls beginning on Saturday, officials said.
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