Poll officials ecstatic over high voter turnout

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 25

While the mainstream political parties are satisfied with the voting pattern, the high voter turnout in five Assembly segments of Kashmir’s Bandipora and Ganderbal districts in the first phase of elections today has given a boost to the poll officials in J&K.

The five Assembly segments of Gurez, Bandipore, Sonawari, Kangan and Ganderbal witnessed a voter turnout of 77.15 per cent, 70 per cent, 81 per cent, 76.83 per cent and 52.97 percent, respectively.

In the 2008 Assembly elections, the poll percentage in Gurez was 74 per cent, Bandipora 57 per cent, Sonwari 59.95 per cent, Kangan 59.55 per cent and Ganderbal 51.77 per cent

The high turnout assumes significance in the backdrop of the separatist poll boycott call and winter chill.

“After the first phase of polls, the message of the voters is loud and clear that they want a solution to their day-to-day issues through a democratic process,” said a J&K election official. “The voting pattern in the elections will set the trend for other phases,” he said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti expressed satisfaction about the encouraging turnout.

“The trends emerging from today’s polling show an overwhelming desire for change with the PDP clearly emerging as the foremost choice for the voters across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” Mehbooba was quoted by a party spokesperson.

She also hailed the state administration and the Election Commission for the smooth conduct of the first phase of the elections with encouraging participation.

State BJP spokesman of Khalid Jehangir said the separatists should learn a lesson from the high voter turnout.

“The higher voter turnout reflects the desire for change of the family Raj. The turnout is a lesson for separatists that people believe in democracy and have shown their trust on the democratic process,” Jehangir said.

Constituency 2014% 2008% 2002%

Gurez 77 74 76.5

Bandipora 70 57 31.27

Sonwari 81 59.95 56.51

Kangan 76.83 59.55 52.03

Ganderbal 52.97 51.77 35.21

QUOTE: "After the first phase of polls, the message of the voters is loud and clear that they want a solution to their day-to-day issues through a democratic process. The voting pattern in the elections will set the trend for other phases" a J&K election official.