Kupwara, Dec 19: The State Election Commission (SEC) KK Sharma Saturday said that the maiden DDC election, the last phase of which was held today, was a “major success” and all the stakeholders including voters took an active part.
The state election commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma visited the polling stations spread across the Wavoora belt on polls in the last phase of the maiden DDC election.
The SEC KK Sharma, while talking to the reporters on the sidelines of a visit to a polling station in Kupwara, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the poll turnout for the maiden District Development Council (DDC) has been a major success and the time set for polling was done as per norms while all the safety measures were ensures across UT.
The SEC said that the voting across the Jammu and Kashmir remained successful with the active participation of all the stakeholders and the election commission had put in efforts to ensure fair polling across the UT and to urge the voters to exercise their right.
He said that the voter turnout by far in the seven phases of maiden DDC elections is quite satisfactory and it shows the interest of the people of Kashmir in democracy. The SEC also said that the active participation of government, political parties, and independent candidates have made this election successful across the Kashmir valley.
“We are monitoring the election very keenly and all the arrangements given the Covid pandemic were ensured across Jammu and Kashmir with the availability of all safety gears including sanitizers, masks, and thermometers”, he said. “The safety of officials and voters was ensured at all the polling stations spread across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He also hinted at the elections to be held in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the visit to the polling stations is aimed to take note of the future and how the administration can improve the arrangements since the elections are to be conducted in the coming time as well.
To a query about the timing of the polling from 07:00 am to 02:00 pm, the SEC said that the DDC election has been a success but everything is done under proper norms applicable pan-India and it was also to be ensured the safety and security of polling staff and to ensure their safe return including the safety of voters. “We’ve received feedback about the poll timing but some of the areas in J&K are vulnerable,” he said—(KNO)
