Jammu:
The District Development Council Elections in Jammu division has shown sustained participation with each subsequent phase. The trend was witnessed over again amid the fifth phase polling held today across twenty DDC constituencies of this part of the Jammu and Kashmir Union territory.
The reports pouring in from different regions show sustained voter turnout with unceasing participation across the social spectrum.
The voters were seen reaching polling booths since the morning, unabated by hilly terrain and harsh winter climate.
Rani Devi cast her vote at 7.40 am at Dangdevpur Polling Booth in Marheen block- Kathua. She was the first female to reach the polling booth. Long queues of the female voters, young and elderly, were seen at Lakhri Polling Booth, block Nagrota Gujroo- Kathua and Gopala Chak, Mahreen Block. The Phase-V polling in Kathua was held for Mahreen and Nagrota Gujroo DDC seats.
Yuraj Singh – first time voter was one among the early voters at polling Booth Darsopur- Miran Sahib block- District Jammu. “I am a first time voter and I am voting for the development of my Block” Yuraj said unequivocally.
Specially-abled Ramesh Singh, another voter at the same booth also expressed similar feelings after casting his vote. Gurbachan Kour(95) came all the way to vote at Polling Booth, Chatta Farm- Phallian Mandal block to cast her vote. Wearing face masks, several other women voters accompanied her to the polling booth.
Donning traditional headgear and face mask- Mohammad Munshi also voted at Darsopur Polling Booth along with his family.
In Ramban, the voting was held for Batote DDC seat at 29 polling booths. The voting started at a dull note due to freezing weather in the morning, but it picked up as the day progressed.
Centenarian, Reshma Bibi (102) cast her vote at polling station no 3 at BDO office, Maggu Nalla, Batote, while Meera Baksh 98 cast his vote at polling station 27 Dalwass. The first time voters and women also turned up in large numbers to vote.
The polling in mountainous Doda district was held in Block Gundna, Block Kahara and Chenab River side Thathri block. All the three constituencies witnessed record voter turnout.
District Kishtwar witnessed polling for Palmar and Thakrie DDC Constituencies and District Rajouri for Kalakote and Dhangri DDC constituencies. Udhampur district witnessed Phase –V polling in Majalta and Khoon DDC constituencies, while in Samba district polling was held in Nud and Ramgarh -B DDC constituencies. Polling in Reasi district was held for Arnas and Bhomag DDC seats, while in Poonch district voting was held for Poonch and Lashana DDC seats.
