Boycott, killing do not deter Kashmir voters

Asif Syed |

By Arif Bashir

After a gap of 10 years, the phased panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir that began on Aril 13, 2011 has seen an overwhelming response despite the killing of a candidate and the boycott call given by Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and supported by some militant outfits. The polls have, so far, seen a high percentage of voter turnouts in the Valley where 2800 candidates are contesting for four Valley blocks.

The first phase of polls conducted on April 13, witnessed an unprecedented response as people came out to vote for 288 sarpanchs and 2118 panchs in eight blocks spread over Kashmir and Jammu provinces. The poll percentage was 86.2% in Kupwara, 77.87% in Kangan, 72% in Budgam, 77.87% in Quimoh (Main), 77.34% in Quimoh (Partly), 80.49% in Udhampur, 82% in Samba and 80% in Bishnah. The total percentage of votes polled was 80.77%.

The election was held in 56 sarpanch constituencies and 436 panch constituencies in block Kupwara; 43 sarpanch and 287 panch constituencies in block Kangan; 36 sarpanch and 282 panch constituencies in block Budgam; 23 sarpanch and 160 panch constituencies in block Quimoh (Main); 13 sarpanch and 95 panch constituencies in block Quimoh (Partly); 46 sarpanch and 332 panch constituencies in block Udhampur; 33 sarpanch and 242 panch constituencies in block Samba and 38 sarpanch and 284 panch constituencies in block Bishnah.

Two days after the first phase of the polls was over and in the first political killing in Kashmir since the panchayat polls got underway, suspected militants shot dead Hasina Begum (40), a panch candidate for the Chrar-e-Sharief area of Budgam district on April 15.

The killing however failed to deter voters as in the second phase of polling, held on April 17, the poll percentage was recorded at 86.50 per cent in Sogam, 86 per cent in Baramulla, 75 per cent in Ganderbal, 82 per cent in Chadoora, 69.60 per cent in Kulgam, 72.69 per cent in Ramnagar, 78.24 per cent in Dudu-Basantgarh, 82 per cent in Purmandal and 80 per cent each in both Ghagwal and Satwari with a total percentage of 78.95 per cent in all these blocks.

A similar response was also seen in the third phase of the polls across the valley as 79 per cent voting was recorded. According to government officials, 75 per cent votes were polled in north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, 69.60 per cent in south Kashmir Kulgam district, 86.50 per cent in north Kashmir’s Sogam block, 86.00 per cent in Boniyar and 82 per cent in Chadoora blocks that went to the polls on April 21.

The multi-phased panchayat elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir on a non-party basis but different political parties, it is believed, have been backing candidates indirectly.

The fourth phase is scheduled to be held on April 25; fifth phase on April 30; sixth on May 4; seventh on May 8; eighth on May 12; ninth on May 16 and the 10th to 16th phases will be held on May 21, May 25, May 29, June 2, June 6, June 11 and June 18 respectively.

It is pertinent to mention that while the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, maintained that the polls should not be taken as a referendum, the hardliner separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, in a seminar, regretted the people’s parti-cipation in the elections. He said this was proof that the people of the Valley do not respect those who have sacrificed their lives for the cause.