Power of democracy prevailed over the separatist-sponsored call for boycott as voters from five constituencies of the Kashmir Valley today thronged polling stations to exercise their franchise in the first of the five-phased elections in the state.
Long queues of voters outside polling booths was evident of the people's desire to participate in the democratic process and elect their representatives for the next six years, unperturbed by the anti-election material posted by separatist outfits.
In three polling stations set up at Animal Husbandry building in Hajin town of this district, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which had actively campaigned for poll boycott, had inscribed graffiti calling for boycott.
The electorate ignored the boycott call and turned up large numbers an hour before the scheduled start of polling at 8 AM to exercise their franchise.
The three polling stations had registered a turnout of more than 18 per cent in the first two hours till 10 AM. Out of total 2,027 votes, 368 were polled during the first two hours.
"Boycotting the elections does not matter in the present day scheme of things. We have seen over the years that an MLA would get elected irrespective of how many votes are cast," Ghulam Ahmad Parray, a 65-year-old, told PTI.
Parray said lesser number of votes cast always favour the wrong people. "If the majority of the electorate exercise their right, a true representative will be elected who will be accountable to all people of the constituency," he added.
