Srinagar, Nov 28 : State Election Commissioner (SEC) K K Sharma Saturday said that amid Covid-19 pandemic and bone chilling cold in Kashmir and some parts of Jammu, a large number of people participated in the first ever District Development Council (DDC) polls and 51.7 per cent voting was recorded for the phase one in J&K UT.
Today’s DDC election were the first elections held post abrogation of Article 370 in J&K. GoI announced scrapping of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The erstwhile State of J&K was sliced into two Union Territories (UTs)—J&K and Ladakh.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, SEC Sharma said that barring a small incident of stone pelting in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, the election process for the phase-1 of DDC polls passed off peacefully. “There was a small incident of stone pelting (at Kulgam). Police have already taken cognizance of the incident,” he said.
Sharma said that 43 DDC constituencies went to polls where 7 lakh voters were registered. “Total percentage of voting for J&K UT was 51.7. In Jammu, voting per cent was 64.2 percent and in Kashmir, poll 40. 65 percent voting was recorded,” he said, adding that “large number of people came out to vote amid Covid pandemic and bone chilling cold.”
Sharma said that Covid-19 guidelines were followed in spirit during the election process, there was no complaint about “violation of guidelines.”
In Jammu, highest percentage of voting was recording in Reasi 74.6 percent with 70.5 per cent in Rajouri, 68.9 in Poonch and 68 percent in Samba. “In South Kashmir, highest voting was recorded in Shopian at 42.58 per cent,” Sharma said.
“In the phase one, 43 constituencies went for polls in J&K of which 25 were in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu,” the SEC said.
He said the first phase recorded large participation of people and most of the voting took place between 7 am to 8 am. “Out of the 362000 votes polled, 193000 were male and 169,000 were females,” Sharma said. The SEC congratulated all the candidates including those who fought independently for taking part in the DDC polls.
Giving the district wise details about the DDC, the SEC said that in Kashmir Division, the polling percentage recorded in Bandipora was 43.57 percent Baramulla 32.51 percent, Srinagar 33.76 percent, Pulwama 6.70 percent, Shopian 42.58 per cent, Kulgam 34.35 per cent, Anantnag 43.32 per cent voters casted their votes.
“Similarly, in Jammu division Kishtwar has voting percentage of 55.16 percent, Doda 64.49 per cent, Ramban 64.21 percent, Udhampur 57.13 per cent Kathua 62.82 percent, Samba 68.61percent and Jammu 61.49 percent,” Sharma said.
Meanwhile, speaking to KNO, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that overall situation remained under control throughout Kashmir division except one incident of minor stone pelting at polling location CR Pora in Kulgam district in which one voter was injured. “FIR has been registered at police station Damhal Hanji Pora(Kulgam),” the IGP said, adding case under FIR number 179/2020 has been registered. IGP Jammu Mukesh Singh said that situation across Jammu region remained peaceful and there was no untoward incident anywhere—(KNO)
