SRI NAGAR: Secrecy and widespread reluctance shrouded the recently-concluded Upper Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The polls saw single-digit turnouts for all phases of voting across militancy-riddled Kashmir Valley. In an unprecedented first, Election Commission (EC) authorities withheld all information on candidates citing security concerns. Their names were not uploaded on the State Election Commission website either. Adding to the secrecy, Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra did not hold the customary Press conferences after the end of every phase.
The elections were carried out in four phases starting on October 8 with polling for subsequent phases on 10, 13 and 16. Two of the main political parties in J&K, the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), boycotted the polls along with separatist leaders. Militant groups also called for a boycott of the polls, which had led to a massive security concern.
The Congress, the BJP and its ally the People’s Conference and several Independents had contested the elections. A security official said the names of the candidates were withheld for security reasons. He said there were apprehensions that in case the contestants were identified, they were open to attacks from militants. Senior journalist Faisul Yaseen said he had covered several elections but it was the first time that information about candidates had been withheld.
The polling times were also unusual. They started at 6 am, roughly half-an-hour before sunrise, and the conclusion time was extended by an hour from second phase onwards.Former Chief Minister and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah had tweeted, “Why are polling booths opening at 6 am? If I believed conspiracy theories, I would believe it is because journalists won’t be around to verify the genuineness of voters at that very early hour.”
The early start did little to boost the turnout. Even in areas like Bandipora and parts of Srinagar, which normally see heavy turnouts, the attendance remained dismal.The polls were also marred by political controversy over Governor Satya Pal Malik’s statement to a local TV channel that a “foreign educated youth” would be the next mayor of Srinagar. Many believe he was referring to former NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu, who had resigned from the party over its decision to boycott the polls. Malik’s statement drew strong criticism from political parties in the state, who alleged thatthe ULB polls have been “fixed” in favour of the BJP.