Ramban

Continuing with the trend of a high turnout in the urban local bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Hindus and Muslims in Ramban district voted for development in large numbers, calling the boycott call by the NC and the PDP “regressive politics”.

As per the last report, Ramban witnessed 77.82 per cent voting in the three municipal committees of the district comprising 21 wards in Batote, Ramban and Banihal. Out of the 21 wards of the three municipal committees, candidates in three wards of Banihal have been elected unopposed. Besides, the polling was cancelled in Ward No. 2 due to death of Azad Singh Raju, a BJP candidate. This way, the elections were held in 17 wards.

Batote 81.11 per cent, Ramban 83.34 per cent and Banihal registered 69.01 per cent voting. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

“We voted for the development of our area. Our town has always supported strengthening of the democratic system. The boycott politics will hurt the poor people, whose basic issues are lack of good governance and basic infrastructure,” said Mohammad Ajmal of Ward No.5, Ramban.As many as 61 candidates of the BJP and Congress and Independents were in the fray, whose fate was decided by 5,324 voters.

“Whoever controls the committee should represent us properly. The town is facing neglect and basic civic amenities are absent. We hope that the civic elections after 13 years will strengthen the grassroots democracy,” said Subash Chander, a prominent trader in the town.