The inaugural phase of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections concluded on a positive note as people defied biting cold and separatists' call for boycott to cast their votes in five segments of Bandipora and Ganderbal districts. Impressive polling was also recorded in four ladakh constituencies despite sub-zero temperature where Congress and BJP are fighting a prestigious battle.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had strategically scheduled the first phase in Bandipora and Ganderbal districts for their precedent to come out in large numbers. In Kangan segment women outnumbered men at various polling booths. The high turnout is likely to set tune for the upcoming four phases in south Kashmir, Kupwara, Baramulla and capital Srinagar where boycott and militancy factors come into play to impact the poll percentage.
"I have come to cast my vote for a change. We have gone through a tough period with unaccountability and corruption," said Imran Ahmad, a first-time voter in Nadihal village of Bandipora. He said that unemployment and insecurity were his major concerns. "I have met with the candidate whom I have promised to vote and he has assured me to mitigate all problems the younger generation is grappling with. I will test his promise," he said.
In nearby Garoora village where Congress candidate Usman Majid resides, the polling atmosphere was surcharged. People formed queues to wait for their turn to cast votes. The voting pattern in the area indicated that People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Nizamuddin Bhat, who is seeking re-election has a tough challenge from Majid. The ruling National Conference (NC) candidate Abdullah Wani and Awami Ittehad Party nominee Nazir Malik were also getting substantial share of votes.
In neighbouring Sonawari constituency some incidents of stone-pelting and hurling a crude bomb did not deter voters to hit the polling booths. A police official said that one explosion was being investigated as to whether it was a firecracker exploded to cause scare. Throughout the constituency, the voters were enthusiastically involved in the process, jostling at many places to leapfrog into the polling booths. This triggered scuffle between followers of rival groups. Higher Education Minister Akbar lone is seeking re-election in the constituency against PDP's Yasir Reshi and Congress candidate Khurshid Parray. Parray is the son of slain counter-insurgent official Kuka Parray who reneged militancy to play a lead role in fighting insurgency. Kuka became a legislator in 1996 polls but was killed by separatist militants in 2003.
"Our area has suffered a lot during militancy and counter-insurgency periods. The successive regimes paid no heed to our requirements. This is the time we vote for a change to bring back focus of development to our area," Abdul Majid, a 55-year schoolteacher told The Pioneer at Hajin village.
In prestigious Ganderbal constituency, a veteran Ghulam Ahmad Khan said that he cast his vote without coercion or influence. "I have voted for young blood. I know my favourite person can dedicate himself for the welfare of people," he said.
Ganderbal segment was known as pocket borough of the NC as the party's CM candidate contested from here since 1975 and lost only once in 2002. However, Omar Abdullah left the constituency this time to test his luck at Beerwah and Sonawar segments. Perhaps he knew that the atmosphere was not conducive for his win in Ganderbal.
"This time no Abdullah. We are firm that the outsiders' hegemony must end on our constituency.
We will elect a local candidate who lives with us and understates us better," Abdur Rashid, a Government employee said at Tulmulla.
The NC has fielded Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, son of a former Minister who quit his junior police officer job to join politics. He was initially with the Congress but later joined the ruling party and gained Chief Minister's proximity. The NC, however, lost many a diehard supporters like former bureaucrat and legislator Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Ghulam Ahmad Saloora and Muhammad Yousuf Bhat.
The voting pattern indicated that Jabbar is in tough fight with PDP's Qazi Afzal, who turned the tables in 2002 elections by defeating Omar Abdullah in one of the major poll upsets in the embattled State.
Jabbar seems to be popular among the youngsters. "I voted for Ishfaq not NC. We remember his father's contributions towards development of the area and hope he fulfils the promises made during the elections," a postgraduate Nuzhat Rasool said.
At lar village, 890 votes had been cast out of 1200 at 3.10 pm and voters were anxiously waiting for their turn before the EVM's were scheduled to be sealed off.
The most interesting battle is likely to unfold in Kangan constituency where PDP is challenging the traditional hegemony of a dynasty that rules the roost for three generations. At every village in the Kangan constituency, large queues of voters were seen true to the precedent, the constituency has set in all previous polls. Incumbent Forest Minister Mian Altaf Ahmad, who has never lost from the constituency, is facing a tough challenge from the PDP candidate. During the parliamentary polls, the PDP had outnumbered the NC but Altaf claims that he has wooed back his estranged supporters.