Avtar Bhat
KISHTWAR, Nov 25: Undeterred by chilly weather conditions of winter, the voters in hilly belt of Kishtwar district were enthusiastic from early in the morning to cast their vote.
Not only in the Kishtwar township but also in the surrounding areas of twin Assembly segments of Kishtwar and Inderwal people had started moving towards the polling stations from early in the morning. Though a very less number of voters had turned up in front of the polling stations in the morning due to cold weather conditions, their number increased after 10 am and swelled during the afternoon.
As per eye witnesses huge queues of voters were seen waiting in front of polling stations both in Kishtwar and Inderwal constituencies and the same continued up to 4pm when polling ended.
At polling Station Mugal Maidan in Inderwal constituency, 276 votes were polled up to 3pm out of 329 registered votes while 50 to 60 people were still standing in the queue. The polling was totally peaceful and smooth said Mohammed Ashraf a local resident. While at Dedpeeth 500 people had cast their vote out of 700 voters by the same time. At Bata, 451 people had cast their vote out of 700 while at Sikdi 24 A also in Inderwal Assembly segment 600 voters had cast their votes out of 1040.
At PS Bunjwa in Inderwal Assembly segment 750 voters had cast their votes out of 1049 by 3-30 pm while over 250 people were still in queue waiting for their turn as the EVM developed a snag. However, the Presiding Officer of the polling booth said that the machine will be replaced and polling will be stopped only after all people in the queue cast their vote.
At Bhandera polling Station in Inderwal 743 people had cast their vote out of 1115 by 2-45 pm and out of them 116 were first time voters, said Jeet Lal a social activist of Bhandera. At polling Station Sangna out of 220 voters 120 had cast their vote by 2-50 pm while 50 to 60 were waiting in the queue.
At Badat polling Station in Saroor Inderwal 887 votes were polled while at Batkote also in Inderwal 740 votes were cast.
In Kishtwar 65 to 70 percent people had cast their vote at polling Station Mata by 2pm, said Anil Parihar, a businessman and a social activist of Kishtwar. He said the people were very much enthusiastic to cast their vote and every thing goes smoothly as their was no compulsion from any political activist or party asking people to come out of their houses and cast vote.
However, some BJP workers expressed apprehensions as the polling authorities at Town Hall Polling Station in the morning were having old voter lists while the agents had new lists. Later, the issue was taken up with the Presiding Officer who immediately issued new voter lists to polling staff at polling booth, he added.
At this polling Station 616 people had cast their vote out of 889 voters. The Presiding Officer said polling passed peacefully and people cooperated with the staff fully.
In Islamia College P S at Kishtwar 645 people had cast their vote out of 957 by 3.50 pm said the Presiding Officer.
The people this time came voluntarily out to cast their vote and the political parties and their agents had to make no efforts for the same, said Shamsher Singh Bhandari a social activist. There was a good response of the people to elections this time and unlike previous elections the people this time came out of their houses voluntarily to cast the vote and participate in democratic process, said Farooq Ahmed Tapal a local resident.
Realizing the power of their vote, the first timers were much enthusiastic to cast their vote and participate in the democratic process in the two Assembly segments of Kishtwar and Inderwal. Almost all first timers had made it a point to cast their vote and utilize their constitutional power to strengthen the democratic institutions in the State.
Maintaining that exercising the right to franchise was a Constitutional right, the first time voters said besides strengthening the democratic institutions, they have voted for development, eradication of unemployment and corruption from public life.
“We voted for development, removal of unemployment, corruption and restoration of peace” said Sanjay Kumar of Bhandera a first time voter. Manoj Kumar another first time voter said that he voted for change with the hope that the new Government will pay more attention for the betterment of youth.
Basir Ahmed, an engineering student and a first time voter of Kishtwar said that like other first time voters he was much enthusiastic to cast the vote and take part in the democratic process. Though he has no grievances with the present coalition he said he wanted to see that the development process in his area should not get derailed started by their local MLA.
Arjun Singh of Sangna Inderwal also a first time voter said that he voted for change and installation of such a Government which will create employment avenues for youth.
Buran Ahmed another engineering student who also cast his vote for the first time at Town Hall polling Station in Kishtwar said his joy knew no bounds when he pressed the button on EVM to cast his vote for the first time. Maintaining that his vote has a power, he said his vote can make a lot of difference and like many other first time voters, he voted for development and better future of youth.
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