Srinagar, April 14: Voters turned up in large numbers to elect village representatives in the first panchayat elections in Kashmir held in a decade. They ignored the call of separatists to boycott the polls, saying participation in polls was for development and basic amenities.
The people exhibited keen interest in electing panchas and sarpanchas in five of the eight blocks, which went to polls in the Valley on Wednesday in the inaugural segment of the 16-phased process. The elections are held on non-party basis. A senior official said tat 75 to 80 per cent turnout was recorded in the inaugural phase.
The elections reminded the people of the 2008 Assembly poll, which were held after a massive public uprising in both regions of the state. This turnout followed another uprising in Kashmir – in 2010 summer.
At Patwa village in Khansahib constituency of Budgam, young boys and girls, mostly first-time voters, queued up outside a local school to cast their votes. “We know the fellow villager whom we are voting for. He is capable of addressing our problems,” said Idrees Ahmad, a 20-plus youngster. “We have been at the mercy of politicians and bureaucrats. Now our representative can fight for our own rights,” he offered an understanding of the panchayat polls.
Most villagers said the elections had no bearing on the Kashmir’s politics. “Kashmir issue is separate and leading politicians are busy in resolving that. We have our local problems and they can be addressed by the panchayat representatives,” Ghulam Ahmad Lone, another villager stated.
Polling was brisk at other villages like Shogipora and Helmishan. A young girl said that she voted for a local woman who has promised to manage water supply to the village. “My big issue is to fetch pitchers of water from a far-off village in hot summer. The MLAs have so far failed to address the problem,” she said.
Three-tier security cover was in place as the voters sealed fate of around 3500 candidates in the first phase. The deputy commissioners, who are also District Panchayat Officers were provided with the security as per the assessment of areas, threat perception and the number of sensitive and hyper-sensitive pockets, officials said.
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Ali Muhammad Sagar said Panchayat elections would help ensure democracy at the grass-roots level. “One could see mini-governments at the village level. The move will decrease the load on Ministers. Sarpanch will have same powers as that of a Minister,” he said.
Officials say that 5,068,976 voters have been registered in 143 blocks of the State to elect 4,130 panchas and 2,9719 sarpanchas with 33 per cent reservation for women. The final phase of the election would be held on June 18.
——–Agencies