In unprecedented polling, the opening phase of first-ever DDC elections across J&K saw a record voter turnout of 51.72 percent on Saturday. While 64.20% of voters polled in Jammu, 40.65% polling in Kashmir valley was recorded by the end of voting amid tight security. Although special measures were taken in view of COVID 19, the Union Territory witnessed a historical voter turnout despite winter conditions as enthusiastic voters stood in queues to cast their votes. The eight-phase DDC polls are also the maiden elections in Jammu and Kashmir since it was reorganized as a UT last year and it is being held along with by-polls to panchayats.

 

 

In the first phase of first-ever DDC elections and by-polls to panchayats and urban local bodies across the Union territory of Jammu Kashmir, officials said nearly 52 percent of voters polled till 3 pm on Saturday amid tight security. According to the index, a record-breaking 74.62 percent polling took place in Reasi while Jammu recorded 64.20 percent and 40.65% was the turnout in Kashmir valley.

 

 

 

Notably, it is the first electoral exercise ever since the centre abrogated Article 370 and 35A last year, besides bifurcating the erstwhile state of J&K into two Union Territories. Officials said that elaborate arrangements were put in place for the smooth conduct of the voting. All the enthusiastic voters, especially the west Pakistani refugees who were casting votes in the local body polls for the first time after abrogation of Article 370 stood in queues waiting for their turns to cast their valuable votes.

 

Of the districts Kashmir region has such as Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kupwara and Kulgam, districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Srinagar are mostly the terror-affected areas where there has always been a very low voter turnout, however, this time except Pulwama, there has been a historic voter turnout till 2 pm on Saturday despite COVID 19 and winter conditions.

 

 

In the first phase, 43 constituencies will go to polls, including 25 in Kashmir valley and 18 in Jammu, the officials said. To elect representatives in 25 DDC constituencies in the valley as many as 3.72 lac eligible voters are expected to exercise their democratic rights as per officials. The polling which began at 7 hrs on Saturday came to end around 3 in the late noon.

 

In majority of polling booths, long queues of voters including women could be seen casting their votes in the valley despite the chilly weather conditions. Although the voter turnout was relatively lesser in the early hours, it picked up as the day proceeded. A large number of voters were seen waiting for their turn outside the polling stations across the UT. Simultaneously, votes were also being cast for sarpanch and panch bypolls in the valley during the first phase of the 8-phased polling.

 

 

There are 280 DDC seats in the union territory including 140 each in Jammu and Kashmir regions, the officials said, adding that 14 constituencies have been earmarked in each of the 20 districts of the union territory. Since the by-polls to the 12,153 Panchayat constituencies are also taking place along with the DDC polls, out of these a major portion 11,814 are in the Kashmir valley, while 339 are in Jammu as per officials.