“If CMs can be detained, how can DDCs help?”: Many south Kashmir voters stay home, others reason against

Kulgam: In south Kashmir, many people preferred to stay away from the second phase of maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls but those who voted said that they have used their vote ‘cautiously’ to choose the best candidates available to them.

People from different areas of south Kashmir boycotted the DDC polls stating that participating in these elections would not bring back the abrogated Article 370 and it was “better to stay away”.

However, many others were seen enthusiastic in casting their votes on the pretext that they want the best candidates to serve them.

Mudasir Nabi, a resident of Shadimarg belt of Pulwama district told KNO that when Article 370 was abrogated, Central government detained even the former Chief Ministers of J&K. “So how can DDCs help in restoring special status?”

He questioned that those parties who were voted to power in past to keep BJP out of power in J&K later forged an alliance with them and people cannot afford to trust them again.

Zameer Ahmad, a resident of Kanji Ullar area Shopian, said that whatever BJP decided to do, they did it and whatever they want, they can do it because those parties who were voted to power for 70 years in J&K with absolute majority did nothing for the welfare of J&K.

Meanwhile, those who voted said that it is true that DDCs cannot restore “our special status but we must choose the best candidates so that we can at least see development on the ground”.

Shakeel Ahmad, a voter from Shangus, said that last time they boycotted Panchayat polls due to which most Sarpanches and BDCs are residents of Jammu. He said for a mere a simple signature, “we have to visit Jammu.”

He said that it is better to choose the ‘best’ local candidate so that they would not face such problems again.

Nazir Ahmad, another voter from Kulgam, echoed the same view, saying that they must choose a candidate who can reach out to people at odd and even times and develop areas with community-based plans and avoid individual benefits. (KNO)