NC, PDP shouldn’t have boycotted civic polls: J&K governor
SRINAGAR: The National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not have boycotted the civic polls, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Tuesday, asserting that Articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution were nonissues in this election.
The two main parties had announced they would not contest the polls over the legal challenge to the articles.
Expressing satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the polls, Malik, in an interview to PTI after the conclusion of the urban local body elections’ final phase, said, “It (the response) has been good.”
“Srinagar saw 9,578 votes being cast. Ganderbal saw 1,000 votes. The turnout is better than some recent elections,” he said.
The real achievement of the elections was that people came out to vote without any fear, the governor said. “The real factor is being overlooked. Elections have been concluded and not a bird was harmed. There were no complaints of any malpractices or violation of the model code or interference by the government,” he said.
Asked if the polls could have been conducted better in view of the low voter turnout in Kashmir, Malik said it could not have been. “This was the best... I congratulate the administration, police and the people that they participated in the polls.” “The disappointment is that political parties should not have boycotted. They should have participated in the polls. There was no benefit for Prime Minister or me. They should have allowed the people to vote,” he said.
Malik attributed the low voter turnout to several factors, including the Hurriyat Conference influence, boycott by the NC and the PDP, and the fear of the gun.
“Two parties boycotted, Hurriyat called for a boycott, there were militant threats and non-issues were made into issues. These were the reasons that turnout was little less but Muslim areas saw 70 to 80% voter turnout,” he said.
Asked if the administration had any plans to woo people back to the democratic process in view of the panchayat polls , Malik said he would appeal to the people to participate in these polls.