Abdul Raheem, 55, turned up at a polling booth in Imam Sahab village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district Sunday morning to cast his ballot.
Rahim, who was shivering with cold, said he voted merely to exercise his democratic right.
“It is my right to vote. I didn’t vote for development or any other issue,” said Rahim.
During the 6th leg of polling, two District Development Council (DDC) seats – Imam Sahab-I and Imam Sahab-II – were up for grabs and 15 candidates were trying their luck.
Three kilometers away in Handew village, a young voter Mohsin Ahmad said that he voted for safeguarding the identity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In Pargochi, Malik Gund, Kunsoo and Losedanow villages, people stayed away from polling stations and could be seen going about their routine chores.
According to an official, at least 46 polling stations went without polling votes as no voters turned up at these booths.
Muzaffar Ahmad, a DDC candidate from Imam Sahab-II constituency blamed the less or no campaign for the scant poll percentage.
In Kulgam district’s Phaloo block, development remained the top priority for the voters. In Shahoo Sachan and Laisoo village, a voter said he was voting for the overall development of the area. In Lamard, a village largely inhabited by the socially marginalised Gujjar community, voters said they voted to get rid of abject poverty.
“The successive governments failed us. This time we hope our elected representative will give us some relief,” said Muhammad Ramzan.
Muhammad Shafi of Pahloo village said he was voting for change. In Newa block of district Pulwama, people said they voted for development.
“We want good healthcare facilities, renovation of streets and drainage system,” a voter said in Gangoo village said.