Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 1: Hope for a change and an end to their long pending development related woes with an easy access to the elected representatives was visible on faces of the voters of all age, who were waiting for their turn in different polling booths to exercise their democratic right in the Panchayat elections, which were held today in various blocks of Udhampur and Reasi under 6th phase of the polling.
Not only young and first time voters but also elderly and even physically challenged, including 101- year old Durgi Devi of Bredian in Udhampur and a blind man at polling station Kakra Baldanu in Panchayat Chinkah (B), Block Thakrakote in Reasi district, seemed equally excited while displaying ink mark on their finger after casting their votes.
“I think no one should miss this opportunity for a change and to elect our representatives at lowest level to whom we can approach at any time for our development related issues,” said first time voter Mehak Malhotra while coming out of the polling station Seenthakaran (Thall) in Udhampur after casting her vote.
Another first time voter Pooja Devi at Panchayat Hartiyan in Udhampur said that those who don’t vote, lost their moral right to question elected representative about their performance.
According to middle aged Darshan Kumar, who along with his family had come to cast vote at a polling station of the Panchayat Sunthan in Udhampur, which has been reserved this time, he was exercising his franchise for a change, which was long due. “We are confident that our representative to whom we are giving mandate, will definitely win and resolve all our development related issues, particularly a road link to this village,” he said.
“We have came to vote for the development as Panchayats are the roots to strengthen democracy,” said Om Parkash, a voter of Matah village in Reasi while highlighting the local issues, which he stressed need immediate attention of the Panchayat representatives. “Better road connectivity to our village is most urgent as we have to walk for four hours to reach our homes,” other villagers said.
However, on the other side, enthusiasm for casting vote to elect their Panchayat representatives soon disappeared among those whose names were missing in the voter list at Panchayat Halqa Chopra Shop.
Disappointed and enraged over alleged blunder committed by the concerned election authorities and more particularly the BLO, the aggrieved people held a strong protest demonstration outside the polling station and also blocked the National Highway for more than an hour.
They alleged that names of around 300 bonafide voters, including males and females in the Panchayat Halqa were intentionally deleted from the voter list. “We have been living here for the last more than 60 years and have cast vote in Assembly as well as Parliament elections. But this time the BLO told us that a new voter list is being prepared and our names have been intentionally deleted,” said a group of women, who along with others were protesting against alleged deletion of their names in the voter list.
The road blockade continued till DySP Headquarter, Z A Wani personally reached the spot and pacified the agitating people, who were led by local Congress leader Ashwani Khajuria.
Reports from different areas said that maximum of the polling stations witnessed long queues of the voters, who kept waiting for their turn to exercise their democratic right and elect the Panchayat representatives. Elaborate security arrangements were made by the Government authorities for smooth conduct of the polling.
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