First election held in country amid COVID pandemic
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 22: Sixty five percent electorates cast their votes in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, (LAHDC), Leh elections today- the first elections held anywhere in the country amid COVID pandemic. The polling in all 26 constituencies across the Leh district remained incident free as no report of violence or violation of Model Code of Conduct was reported from any where in the district.
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According to reports, out of 89,789 total registered voters 54,258 cast their votes today. Despite the COVID pandemic there was enthusiasm among the voters to exercise their right to franchise. However the percentage of voters in rural belt of Leh district was more than Urban areas and women in large number came out from their houses to cast their vote and surpassed their male counterparts in today’s election.
As per reports, 28,263 female and 25,994 males cast their votes in today’s polling. The highest turnout was reported from Sku Markha constituency where 83.59 percent electorate cast their votes while the lowest turnout was reported from Lower Leh where 48.8 percent electorates exercised their franchise.
This was followed by 52.27 percent turnout in Phyang, 61.71 percent in Temisgam, 63.25 percent Skurbuchan, 64.21 per cent in Tangtse, 64.34 percent in Martselang, 64.42 in Upper Leh, 65.41 percent in Saspol, 66.63 per cent in Korzok, 67 per cent in Kungyam, 67.88 per cent in Sakti, 68.17 per cent in Chuchot, 68.72 per cent in Lamayouru, 70.70 per cent in Basho, 70.89 per cent in Igoo, 71.56 per cent in Thiksay, 72..08 in Nyoma, 72.66 per cent in Tegar, 72.92 per cent in Khaltse, 73.02 percent in Hundar, 73.63 per cent in Panamik, 74.70 per cent in Chushul, 75.16 per cent in Diskit, 76.45 percent in Lingshet constituency and 77.91 per cent in Turtuk.
Despite the COVID Pandemic the district election authorities accepting the challenge had made elaborate arrangements for the voters at all polling booths including the sanitization of booths, maintaining social distance, observance of SOPs besides providing masks, shields and sanitizers to the polling staff and security forces men manning the booths.
The polling percentage during last LAHDC elections was also around 65 percent and the authorities are satisfied with the turnout this time despite the Pandemic.
Addressing a press conference, Election Authority 6th LAHDC, Leh Election, Sachin Kumar Vaishya said that a total of about 65.07 % of voters have exercised their franchise in the polling that will decide the fate of 94 candidates who are in the fray for the sixth LAHDC, Leh election. BJP, INC, AAP and 23 Independent candidates are fighting the race to win the seats of 26 councilors of the 6th Hill Council of Leh district.
It is for the first time EVMs were used for LAHDC Leh election and counting of votes is scheduled on October 26. Female polling teams were deployed on 57 polling stations out of the 294 including 75% female staff on another 38 polling stations.
Though polling was scheduled to take place at 8 am but it started late as EVMs which were brought from Kashmir Valley took some time in getting charged, said the DC. He said at some polling booths voting started by 9-30 and at other booths it started at 10 am.
He said authorities faced many challenges during the present voting. One of the major challenges which they faced was that the half of the security personnel deployed from other parts of the country for elections in Leh tested positive. They were quarantined till they recovered. Second the battery of the M-2 Type machines which were first time used did not respond for some time and a polling party deployed to a polling booth developed COVID positive symptoms and a reserve polling party was deployed for the same and they were brought back.
He said there were 2500 first time voters in the Leh who turned 18 this year and 11 percent new voters were added this time than last elections of 2015.
He said for the first time during this election postal ballot was used for COVID patients, handicapped and those above 65 years of age. A 104-year old lady cast her vote through postal ballot in Nobra area, he added.
SSP, Leh Rajiv Panday said that polling was held very peacefully in the district and no untoward incident was reported from any polling stations.
The polling started at 8 in the morning and a good number of voters turnout was recorded at all the polling stations in Leh and surrounding villages, especially women and youth presence were higher.
Besides, the senior citizens, person with disability, the individual who are under home/institutional quarantine, person tested positive/home isolated, doctors and paramedical staff deployed at dedicated COVID Hospital or COVID Care Centre were provided postal ballot voting services and a total of 4303 voters exercise their franchise under this service.
For conducting a very peaceful and smooth election and good voter turnout today, the DC Leh complimented all the staff and police personnel deployed in the election duty and Government agencies including media and said that now the focus of the district administration is to ensure smooth counting day on 26th October.
Election Observer 6th LAHDC, Leh election, Ravinder Kumar, Additional District Magistrate Leh, Sonam Chosjor and Election Officer Leh, A.G Zargar were also present during the press conference.
Constituency % age
TURTUK 77.91%
HUNDAR 73.02%
DISKIT 75.16%
TEGAR 72.66%
PANAMIK 73.63%
TANGTSE 64.71%
CHUSHUL 74.70%
NYOMA 72.08%
KUNGVAM 67.00%
KORZOK 66.63%
SAKTI 67.88%
IGOO 70.89%
MARTSELANG 64.34%
THIKSAY 71.56%
CHUCHOT 68.17%
UPPER LEH 64.42%
LOWER LEH 48.08%
PHYANG 52.27%
SKU-MARKHA 83.59%
BASHO 70.70%
SASPOL 65.41%
TEMISGAM 61.71%
KHALTSE 72.92%
SKURBUCHAN 63.25%
LAMAVOURU 68.72%
LINGSHET 76.45%
TOTAL 65.07%
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