Srinagar, Nov 28 (KNO): Most of the voters in the first phase of eight-phased District Development Council (DDC) elections turned up at the polling stations on Saturday with a hope to see their localities better developed through their elected representatives.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) Correspondent, the voters especially the young men were casting ballots with an aim to ensure the win of their candidate, who as per them will start a development process in their localities.
“We are not electing a leader today, but a representative whose locality is also craving for the development,” said Junaid Ahmad, a voter at one of the polling booths in Rawalpora-14.
He said this election is totally different from the others conducted so far. “This election is purely meant for the development. We are coming out to cast ballots to ensure that a deserving and a loyal candidate will win so that our locality could witness development on the ground,” he said.
Ahmad, who was probably waiting for someone in the premises of Government Girls High School at Rawalpora here, said that winning and losing elections is a part of the process, but they want whosoever wins should come up to the expectations of the people.
Aijaz Ahmad, another voter, donning traditional Pheran told KNO that he has exercised his franchise for the first time today and the motive behind is only development in his locality. “We have tested the existing parties so far, but this was a time to give a chance to the new faces so that traditional culture is kept at bay,” he said.
Ahmad also stated that he was not against any of the candidates, but only one has to win. “I chose one among the candidates who I believe is more sincere than others and wouldn’t forget his promises,” he said.
“There is already unemployment here, but if the developmental works begin, the people here would also get some jobs with it,” he said.
Pertinently, the first phase of eight-phased District Development Council (DDC) elections was conducted today in which 51.7 per cent voting was recorded. The voting will take place on December 22
A total of 296 including both male and female candidates were in the electoral fray while a total of 7 lakh voters were scheduled to cast their ballots across Jammu and Kashmir today—(KNO