Voters’ enthusiasm marks first phase of polling in JK: Govt

Jammu/Srinagar: Thursday morning couldn’t have been more enthusing and provoking to vote as the early morning breeze coupled with a relaxing dip in the day temperature set the tone for celebrating the festival of democracy Thursday, said an official press release of the Jammu & Kashmir Government.
In the first phase of General Elections, two Parliamentary Constituencies of Baramulla and Jammu, spread over seven districts of Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipore, Jammu, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch went to polls Thursday.
As the polling started at 7 am in the morning, long queues of voters were witnessed eager to cast their votes, said the official press release adding that ‘at many places, excitement among youth, particularly first time voters like Tanishi and Nisha at polling stations Mawakarora & Dhanger was visible who wanted to shape up their dreams by choosing candidates of their choices’.
Saying that at many places, women outnumbered men to exercise their franchise, thus amply displaying the deep roots democracy has taken among masses, the official statement of the Jammu & Kashmir Government said ‘age or physical health couldn’t deter voters from exercising their choice. Baba Gyan Singh, 102 year old cast his vote at PS Mawakarora (Akhnoor) and so did Bansi Lal, 85 year old in Khour constituency’.
Noting that Saraswati Devi, 95 years & Dhanno Devi, 100 years cast their votes at Govt. Higher Secondary School, Palanwala Chamb in Jammu region , the official press release said ‘at many rural areas, many voters in their traditional attires had come to the polling booths to cast their votes’adding that ‘the scene wasn’t different across Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency as the season coincidentally marks the beginning of spring with mesmerising almond bloom all around the Valley’.
Noting that people were seen waiting in long queues at Ladoora, Sangrama, Wussan, Naidkhai, Malpora, Malangam, Matipora and other places for their turn to exercise their franchise, the official press release further said ‘enthusiastic voters thronged Government Middle School K P Payeen, Pattan and the first time voters were seen lined up at the polling booths brewing with enthusiasm’.
‘The voters expressed satisfaction for the facilities made available at the polling booths for the smooth conduct of polls. Democracy, as they say, is a government by debate and discussion and Thursday’s enthusiasm amply reflected that’, reads the statement of the Jammu & Kashmir Government.