The four assembly segments of Pulwama district on Monday registered a dismal to moderate voter turnout.
Pulwama, Rajpora, Tral and Pampore recorded an overall voterturnout of 0.64 percent, 1.59 percent, 0.93 percent and 4.65 percent respectively.Out of the 450 polling stations, 211 saw no voter in the district.
All these assembly segments have largely been thestrongholds of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC).Before 2008, NC had been winning the elections from these segments, but in2008, PDP replaced NC.
This time poll fervor was missing and most of those who cameout of their homes to vote were mostly NC activists, a group of voters toldGreater Kashmir at a polling station at the Government Degree College Pulwama.
Fearing violence, the administration had clubbed nearly 10polling booths of Rajpora and Pulwama segments here. “Due to security reasons,out of 296 polling booths in Pulwama district we had relocated 67 booths todifferent areas,” sad an official.
The few who voted said their party will protect the identityof Kashmiris.
“For the protection of our identity I have decided to choosemy candidate. If we will not vote then BJP will continue to create trouble inKashmir,” said a voter Majid Shafi of Pulwama.
Another voter who identified himself as Ghulam Nabi Bhatsaid he hoped that the party he voted for will protect the specialconstitutional status of Kashmir.
The situation in Tral segment was no different: at the endof the day, poll percentage was 0.93 percent. Majority of polling booths inmain town Tral and its adjoining villages wore a deserted look. Moderatepolling was witnessed in a few Sikh dominated villages, where all four majorparties in the fray got some votes.
At the polling station in main town Tral, located inHorticulture Development Office, guarded by dozens of police and paramilitarysoldiers, only three votes out of the total 3500 had been cast. At Tral 58 Bstation, out of the 910, only 20 votes were polled till 3pm.
A voter at the polling booth located at the BlockDevelopment Office Tral showed his stained finger and said: “This time there isbig reason to vote because our leader has vowed that he would grant districtstatus to Tral.”
Moderate polling was witnessed in Khrew and Shaar-Shaaliareas of Pampore assembly segment. At 8 am, NC parliamentary candidate justiceHasnain Masoodi along with dozens of his supporters cast vote at pollingstation located in Government Higher Secondary School Khrew. Long queues ofvoters were seen till afternoon.
“I am voting for the first time because we are lacking thebasic amenities of life. I hope our leader will develop our village,” saidZarina, who was holding her newborn baby in the lap while waiting for her turnat the polling booth located in Shaar Shali.
Except Khrew and Shaar-Shaali areas of Pampore, the rest ofthe stations recorded low or dismal turnout.
In Kakapora, fearing violence the authorities had bunched 13polling booths together at the Government Higher Secondary School Kakapora.Both polling staff and security forces were idle and gossiping throughout theday. A polling official said no voter had turned up in polling booths 77 and 24by 12 noon. These two had 1654 registered voters.
In polling booth located at Drangbal Pampore, only 10 voteswere polled out of the total 483.
“Due to rising tensions we have decided to stay away fromelections. The politicians take votes and never see the voters again. Stayingaway from polls is our choice and democratic right,” said a local Ghulam QadirBhat.
Polling booths in Awantipora, Dogripora, Larkipora,Padgmapora of Pampore segment witnessed a dismal voter turnout. Even theemployees on election duty were surprised.
“From 2002 till now I have been engaged in election dutiesin different areas of Kashmir. I have seen long queues of voters and fightsbetween political workers but here I hardly see anyone voting,” said apresiding officer who did not reveal his name.
In Rajpora segment, hilly areas witnessed moderate pollingwhile as people in the main town stayed away from polls.
“I will always vote no matter what. My party has released mefrom prison and my villagers from the clutches of Ikhwan during the 90s. Thefate of Kashmir was changed by my leader and my vote would always be gratitude forhim,” said an elderly man, Ghulam Hassan, of Rajpora.
A few voters who turned up at various polling booths inRajpora segment said they voted for the overall development in the area.”Health is priority and my party has played an active role of developing healthsector in the area. We have modern equipments in community health centre andmore than 16 doctors are available now,” said a voter at polling booth locatedin Rajpora.
Most of the voters, he said, who voted today were PDPactivists.
A complete shutdown was also observed across Pulwama andShopian districts. Tens of hundreds of police and paramilitary troopers weredeployed at sensitive locations.