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| Early nip in Kashmir could affect polling percentage | | | If the weather related problems, that
have cropped up in the Kashmir valley,
are any indication the valley is yet to be gripped by what is usually called the poll fever. With mountains experiencing the first fall of snow and day and night temperature touching quite low people in the valley will be faced with two main issues. Whether to look after the survival of those who have lost their houses in floods or take part in the electioneering. Yes, in 2008 the Assembly election was held in November-December but then the problems created by the worst ever floods had not surfaced. Also when the first two phases of election out of seven phases, were completed the Valley had not experienced sharp nip in the air. But this time early snowfall in the mountain areas had resulted in the lowering of the temperature. Reports indicate that snowfall on the mountains has resulted in sharp fall in temperature in the Kashmir valley on Monday, the night temperature dropping to 2.7 degrees Celsius in this city - the lowest so far this season. The minimum temperature of 2.7 degrees Celsius on Monday was the lowest recorded this season so far in Srinagar, a MeT department official said.
The minimum temperature dropped below the freezing point in Sonamarg and Pahalgam tourist resorts in the Valley while Leh and Kargil towns also recorded below freezing point temperatures. The minimum was minus 2.0 degrees in Gulmarg on Monday. It was minus 3.6 in Pahalgam, minus 7.6 in Leh and minus 4.6 in Kargil towns. Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 11.5 degrees during the night. The early snowfall in the mountains this season has been caused due to unprecedented rainfall witnessed by the valley during autumn. Snowfall in the higher reaches has also caused temperatures to drop in the plains. It is expected the weather to remain dry for another five to six days, but during this period due to clear night skies, there would be marginal drop in the minimum temperatures in the Valley. Locals wearing woollens, including the traditional tweed over-garment called the 'pheran', are a common sight in cities, towns and villages in the Valley these days. There are several thousand families in Kashmir that continue to be bothered about proper rehabilitation. They need safe shelter during winter months as their houses have been damaged by the floods.
In the context of these developments on continues to be pessimistic about the polling percentage. In 2008 Assembly poll the eight constituencies in Srinagar district registered a polling percentage of 20.In the just ended Lok Sabha election the voting percentage in the eight Assembly segments of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency varied between 25 and 28 per cent when the valley had not faced any weather related problem. May month is summer in Kashmir and still people showed lack of interest in polling. This time two factors weigh heavy on the mind of people in Kashmir, the weather and flood related problems. Poll analysts are of the opinion that that it would be a slap on the face of separatists if 46 Assembly constituencies in the Kashmir valley record between 35 and 45 per cent polling. One thing is certain since Srinagar district has been ravaged by the floods one does not expect the polling percentage to be more than 20 percent. If it happens separatists could claim that people responded to their call for poll boycott. It was in the context of flood devastation and weather related problems that many political parties had demanded postponement of the election. Possibly the Central Government and the Chief Election Commission were opposed to delaying the democratic process by holding elections on time. Let people face difficulties but at the same time vote for a change that could usher in good governance. |
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