Heavy polling in Udhampur district

Sumit Hakhoo and Deepankar Gupta
Tribune Reporters
Udhampur, October 10

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Three municipal committees in Udhampur district saw a heavy turnout on Wednesday with a majority of the voters exercising their right to franchise by noon. The district registered 79.21 per cent voting.

While Udhampur town witnessed 78.01 per cent voting, it was 85.40 per cent in Ramnagar and 88.26 per cent in Chenani.

Since morning a large number of people made a beeline for 68 polling stations established by the District Election Officer (DEO) in the three municipal committees.

Despite it being the first day of Navratras, locals came forward to cast their vote early in the morning.

Despite the DEO declaring 61 polling stations as sensitive due to political rivalries between candidates, the voting remained largely peaceful in the district.

There were a few reports of EVMs malfunctioning, but they were promptly replaced.

“Our town needs a massive infrastructure revamp. Despite being an important and historic town, the basic civic facilities are in a shambles,” said Rajat Sharma, at the polling station in Ward No. 3.

Udhampur is also headquarters of the Army’s strategic Northern Command but the town has faced neglect of the government for years.

At most of the polling stations, the mood among voters was electric as many of them reached the polling stations before the voting started at 6 am.

“I am here with my grandmother. I am voting for the first time in the urban local bodies polls. I feel we should elect good candidates who can become our voice,” said Naveen Akhtar. Her grandmother Surraya Begum, 70, waited for more than 20 minutes in a queue at the polling station for Ward No. 5.

In Ramnagar and Chenani municipal committees, many voters came from far-off places to exercise their franchise. “It may not have much importance but it’s our democratic right to participate in the election. I came from Jammu, where I am studying, to vote,” said Rahul Singh in Ramnagar.

Giving details, District Election Officer Ravinder Kumar said out of the 35,353 voters, 28,003 exercised their franchise. “The fate of 192 candidates, who were contesting for 41 wards in three municipalities of Udhampur district, has been locked in the EVMs. The highest turnout was recorded in Chenani municipal committee where a total of 88.26 per cent of the electorate voted.”

Elderly women among first to vote 

• Among the voters, nonagenarian Veerwali at Ward Number 4 and septuagenarian Sushila Devi at Ward Number 6 were among the first to reach the polling station on Wednesday.
• For decades, they have never missed any civic election and this time, it was special because the civic polls are being conducted after 13 years. At this old age, both the women were quite happy to reach the polling booth along with their grandchildren.
•  “I haven’t missed a single election in my life. This, despite the fact, that political parties and elected representatives have always given a raw deal to the masses. I reached here first to cast my vote as it’s my right,” Veerwali (90) said. tns