Congress, BJP fight over single vote in Baramulla

SRINAGAR: For two national parties —Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress — the fight is over a single vote each cast at two wards of Baramulla Municipal Council in the first phase of local body polls held on Monday.

The two wards in contention – Khawjasahib and Bagh-e-islam — located in the old city, saw only one voter each coming out to cast vote. These two wards are not an aberration. At least 21 others saw less than 20 votes being polled. The contest at Khawjasahib and Bagh-e-islam was between BJP and the Congress.

Interestingly, the contesting candidates are not even registered voters in the wards from which they have sought election.

Khawjasahib has 544 registered voters while neighbouring Bagh-e-islam has 768.

“The people who voted at these two wards are our voters. I know both of them voted for my party,” BJP candidate, Rubeena Manzoor told Hindustan Times. Manzoor is contesting from both the wards. “My vote is registered at Mirsahib ward. I couldn’t vote for myself, but at my own ward I voted for the BJP candidate”.

On the other hand, Congress is also hopeful that party candidates, Nageena and Saba will emerge victorious from the two wards.

“Our voters went and cast their votes in favour of our candidates. Both these seats belong to us now. The BJP will accept this reality when votes will be counted,” said Umar Kakroo, a Congress candidates and party’s Baramulla in-charge.

In Tawheed Ganj ward, out of 1818, only six people came out to vote while in Jamia three out of 1,006 registered voters exercised franchise.