DDC Polls: Development, right candidate on card as polling begins in J&K UT

Jammu, Nov 28: While the first phase of the District Development Councils (DDC) election and panchayat bypolls began on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir, the voters braving chill, stood in line to vote for development and to the right candidates in their respective constituencies.

Asserting that irrespective of any political party, they have voted to the deserving candidate as well as for the development.

"I have cast my vote for development to my favourite candidate," Shunnu Singh in Purmandal Block said.

He expressed that many political parties are in a race in this first-ever DDC polls but the voters should vote only to the right candidate and not to any particular party so that the development can take place.

"Many areas are still underdeveloped in Jammu and Kashmir especially in border belts," Sohan Kumar of Jourian expressed.

He said that earlier the MLA elected in Assembly Elections were not visible on the ground but after DDC polls, at least the elected representative can be put to task for the development of the area.

However, as many as 1,427 candidates are in the fray and seven lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise across the Union Territory.

At least 43 out of 280 constituencies in the Union Territory undergoing to polls in the first phase of the DDC elections.

The DDC elections in Jammu and Kashmir is the first major political activity being held since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two union territories — Jammu and Ladakh.

Parties including the National Conference, People's Democratic Party, People Conference and CPI(M), formed the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration are fighting the maiden DDC elections together. National parties BJP and Congress are also in the fray.

"As many as 7 lakh voters shall use their right to vote in phase I of polling. Out of 7 lakh voters, more than 3.72 lakh are from the Kashmir division and 3.28 lakh are from the Jammu division," said Mr KK Sharma, State Election Commissioner here on Friday.

On the District Development Council (DDC) elections, the SEC said a total of 280 constituencies are in the Union Territory of J&K (14 in each district), out of which voting will be conducted in 43 constituencies from 7 am to 2 pm in phase-I.

He said 296 candidates are in the poll fray, comprising 207 males and 89 females for DDC elections in Phase- I.

Mr Sharma said the sarpanch election will be conducted in 94 constituencies and a total of 279 candidates (203 males, 76 females) are contesting in the first phase.

He said that all arrangements are in place besides manpower, election material and adequate deployment of security forces.

On the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SEC urged the people to follow the guidelines issued by the Election Commission, besides using face masks and maintaining social distance during polling.

He also said sanitisers and face masks shall be provided to the voters, in case they forget to carry their own.

The SEC appealed to the people to come forward to participate in the biggest festival of democracy and urged them to cast their votes.

The DDC election and the panchayat bypolls are being held in eight phases from November 28 to December 19.

The counting of votes will be taken on December 22.