DDC Elections 7th phase: Jammu and Kashmir reports 57.22% voting

In the seventh phase of the ongoing district development council (DDC) elections on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir reported 57.22% voting, with 39.52% voting in Kashmir and 71.93% in Jammu.

This was the penultimate phase of the maiden DDC elections held across J&K, and the situation remained peaceful. The administration had snapped mobile 2G internet services in some places of southern Kashmir to ensure smooth polling. In Anantnag town, locals claimed that the police had asked them to shut shops on the election day and public transport wasn’t allowed to ply as well.

The highest polling in Kashmir was recorded in Bandipora (70.47%) and lowest was recorded in Shopian (6.55%). In Jammu, highest polling was recorded in Poonch (80.12%) and lowest polling was recorded in Doda (58.82%).


Voters in Kashmir continued to complain about the lack of development and expressed anguish over the decisions of BJP government regarding J&K, after August 5, 2019. “We are voting to keep the BJP out. It will take 50,000 years for the BJP to reach our hearts. They are out to annihilate our identity,” said Farooq Ahmad in Anantnag district of southern Kashmir.

In this phase of elections, 31 DDC constituencies went to the polls – 13 from Kashmir and 18 from Jammu division. A total of 298 candidates were in the fray in the seventh phase – 148 in Kashmir and 150 in Jammu division.

“We are here to vote for development as regional parties have always deceived us. We want someone among common masses to win this time,” said Ghulam Hassan of Takia Behram Shah area of southern Kashmir.

In the first six phases, the voting percentages were 51.2%, 52%, 48.62%, 50.53%, 50.08% and 51.51% respectively. The DDC elections and panchayat bypolls are being held in eight phases from November 28 till December 19. The counting of votes shall be conducted on December 22.

The contest in the DDC elections is mainly between the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), BJP and Apni Party. The PAGD is a grouping of regional parties including National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, who have come together to fight for the restoration of statehood and special status of J&K.