Able to move only with help of an aid due to an injury suffered in an accident, Muhammad Yusuf Dar of Rathsun constituency in central Kashmir’s Budgam district turned up at a polling station to cast vote in the fifth phase of District Development Councils (DDC) polls on Thursday.
Taking steady steps toward the polling booth, Dar said he was recuperating well and looking forward to cast his vote.
He said reaching the polling station was not easy but hoped that his vote was for the larger interest of the village.
“I am here to vote despite my injury because we want to elect a representative who can perform in the interest of the area. Our area lacks basic facilities such as proper power supply and potable water .We hope this time our efforts don’t go waste,” Dar said.
Dar was not the only one who reached the polling station despite such challenges.
Ghulam Muhammad Sheikh of Chewdara village, who has a physical disability, could be seen being brought inside the polling station on his wheel chair.
Sheikh was among the first few voters who voted at this polling station.
“It was not easy to reach the polling station but my purpose to vote is to ensure improvement of the civic facilities in the area,” Sheikh said.
Ali Muhammad Rather of Ohangam village said although some developmental works had been carried in the vicinity, the vote this time was “to strengthen grass root level representation”. “This election is unlike the assembly polls. It is local election which will help us choose a representative who will listen to our daily woes and will be easily assessable,” Rather said.
Another voter Farooq Ahmad from BonporaOhangam said due to lack of potable water supply, womenfolk of the area were at the receiving end as they had to travel long distances to fetch water.
“No major developmental work has happened in our area in the past several years. Now that youth have come out in large numbers to vote, we hope the votes will lead to youth empowerment and job creation” Ahmad said.
However, Habibullah from Chewdara said he did not vote only with the intention that “it will create jobs”.
“We have come here to vote not thinking we will get jobs but with an intention that there will be overall development of the area,” he said.
Brisk voting in Rathsun and Pakharpora constituencies helped Budgam district record more than 40 percent voting on Thursday and witness the second highest poll percentage in the Valley during the fifth phase of DDC polls.
Earlier Khansahib, Beerwah; Khag, Sukhnag and later Surasyar; Narbal constituencies had gone to polls in Budgam during the first four phases.