The second phase of District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir recorded a turnout of 49 per cent on Tuesday.
In the Kashmir region, 33.4 per cent of voters came out to vote braving biting cold and COVID-19. In Jammu, the turnout was an impressive 65.5 per cent. In the first phase, 52 per cent of people cast their ballot.
In Kashmir, the highest turnout of 69.66 per cent was recorded in Bandipora district and the lowest in Pulwama at 8 per cent. In Jammu, the highest and the lowest turnout were recorded in Poonch and Kathua at 75.07 and 60.1 respectively.
The lower turnout in Kashmir is attributed partially to the cold wave that is sweeping the valley.
In Kashmir, the voting picked up after the weather improved in the day. At many polling booths, voters thronged the booths early to cast their votes.
In the second phase, elections were held for 25 seats in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu region. In all, 280 seats, 14 each in 20 districts of the UT, will witness polls in eight phases. The results will be announced on December 22.
According to the State Election Commissioner K.K. Sharma, 7.9 lakh voters were eligible for voting in the second phase for which 2,142 polling stations have been set up across the UT.
In Kashmir, 196 candidates were in the fray while in Jammu, 125 candidates are contesting the polls.
The DDC polls have become an intense contest between the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a seven-party alliance of J&K parties, and the BJP.
The PAGD seeks the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Last year, on August 4, the seven parties had passed a declaration, a resolution, in favour of Article 370 at the residence of the NC president and MP, Farooq Abullah, on Gupkar Road because of which the declaration was named the Gupkar Declaration.
Observers believe the PAGD is well placed to win a major chunk of seats in Kashmir and parts of Jammu. A victory to the PDGD in DDC polls will be a setback to the BJP's attempts to extend its reach to the grassroots in J&K.
The DDCs were created after the Centre amended the J&K Panchayat Raj Act 1989 after the revocation of Article 370.
For the first time, the West Pakistan Refugees and other groups of people who were barred from participating in local elections in J&K are taking part in local polls in the UT.
