From first-timers to nonagenarian, all head to poll booths in Jammu

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 8

From the first-time voters to a nonagenarian, there was a great enthusiasm among the electorate who turned up in large numbers to vote in the urban local bodies elections being held after a gap of 13 years.

The level of energy among the electorate infused by the polls could be gauged from the fact that nobody wanted to miss the opportunity to use their right to franchise to elect a “deserving” and “competent” local representative who could take care of the development of their respective areas. “I don’t know whether I will be here for next municipal elections but I don’t want to miss this opportunity to cast my vote in favour of a deserving candidate. The MLAs and MPs virtually remain inaccessible to the people but we can approach the local representative at any point of time. I hope that good and deserving people get elected this time around,” said 94-year-old Lal Chand, who was brought to a polling station in Ward No. 17 of the Jammu municipal corporation (JMC) by his family members.

Bharat Bhushan, a paralytic patient in his 60s, too came to vote with the help of his family members at the Kachi Chawni polling station established for Ward No. 10 of the JMC. He said: “It is a great chance for all to vote for deserving candidates so that we have good local representatives. I was not able to walk but still I insisted on voting because I did not want to miss the opportunity.”

Despite a poll boycott call given by the NC, PDP and separatist groups, and terror threats by militant outfits, there was little impact of it on the overall polling across Jammu and Ladakh regions.

A first-time voter, Mansi Sharma, came to vote at a polling station at Mubarak Mandi. Mansi, who became eligible to vote this year only, said, “I am glad to be the part of grassroots-level democracy. Our family has decided not to vote for any political party but for a competent and honest candidate who can bring overall change in the area.”