On Monday the first phase of polls went on for urban local bodies across the state and marked overall 56 per cent turnout.
While the overall percentage of the polls was at par with the national standards, however, in Kashmir the turnout was abysmal where at majority of the places it failed even to cross the single digit.
The Kashmir region over all marked an unimaginable turnout of 8.2 per cent with Kupwara district of North Kashmir making it the highest of 26 per cent. At some places especially in south Kashmir there was no candidate even in fray to contest the polls.
At many places lots of candidates won without facing the battle of ballot. The polls which are going in state are being held after a long 13 years due to unfavourable political situation in valley.
The main two political parties, National Conference and PDP however refused to contest on the grounds that New Delhi must explain its position on Article 35 A which is challenged in Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the polls went on peacefully barring some isolated incidents of stone pelting and strict shutdown on the call of separatists.
The militants had warned people against the participation in the elections that triggered the fear among the general masses. Ahead of elections some violent incidents took place in south Kashmir villages where some cops were brutally killed after they refused to resign from the job.
The elections are being held without New Delhi succumbing to the pressure mounting on it from the separatists as well as local mainstream political parties. Although the marginal participation was witnessed in the elections the elections must not be used as a political plank by New Delhi as it will have serious bearing on the local people when it comes to their security and safety.
The elections for the Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies are being held only to address the day to day grievances of people. Those who braved the threats and voted or contested the elections do not aim to become the scapegoat of political hostilities; however, they are purely bothered to have desired basic facilities to live a decent and dignified life.
Even what the Government of India has been talking about that Jammu and Kashmir is deprived of huge funds meant for the infrastructural development of towns and villages; it must ensure the same is released following the successful culmination of elections for both Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies.
That will not only build the confidence among the people for participating in the elections in future, however, will also make the general public understand importance of these elections. So far the electoral process by New Delhi in Kashmir has been a strongest weapon to negate the common narrative in Kashmir. The elections have always been used as a political cord internationally by India.
The real purpose of the elections is often overshadowed by the political gimmick despite the fact every election process in Kashmir is marred by the violence. Even in 2011 when the elections for the Panchayats were held as many as 60 people lost their lives, however, nothing changed on ground. Even the slogan of development attached to these elections proved sham.
In an order to avoid the repetition of past New Delhi must take the ongoing exercise seriously without looking into the number of people participating and ensure what it promised alongside these elections. Otherwise the people will start losing faith in the process which is not good for any democracy.
