x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Stop behaving like ‘feudal lord’: Imran Ansari tells Omar Abdullah | Satellite-based toll collection system to replace toll plazas: Nitin Gadkari | MHA extends validity of FCRA registered NGOs | India’s borders totally secure: Rajnath Singh | ‘Govt open to change in Agniveer scheme’ | CS reviews development of skilling portal by BISAG | Leopard snatches 5-year-old girl | Rains lash Kashmir, more in offing | Notification issued for Jammu Lok Sabha seat | 11 injured in Poonch accident | Properties of drug peddler attached | JKBOSE reschedules 11th class exams | Yoga competition held | BLOs imparted Training about electoral process at different assembly segments of Kupwara | SVEEP programme Galvanizes Participation in electoral process at High School Nagulta | Missing girl traced out within 2 days, reunited with family | Police Reunites missing girl with Family | PCCF chairs 8th UT Level Monitoring Committee meeting | Police thwarts bovine smuggling bid, Apprehends Culprits | DEO flags-off SVEEP Van for Voter awareness in Kulgam | Chorus Grows Louder | Hilly, rural areas confronting development deficit under J&K Govt: Sadhotra | Ex-Army Chief VK Singh Sabotaged Revocation Of AFSPA In J-K, Alleges Omar Abdullah | CUK declares Mar-29, 30 as working days for all non-teaching staff | RGCN organizes workshop on Nursing edcuation | Secretary Sports Council Inaugurates Softball/Baseball5 Championship 2023-24 | GDC Vijaypur Starts Lecture Series | GDC Ramnagar conducts programme on Nasha Mukti Se Yuva Shakti | SPMR College Organizes SVEEP Programme Promoting Voter Awareness | Khour Holds Successful Anti-Drug Awareness Programme | Students Rally Against Drug Abuse in Dewan Devi Public School Event | Psychological Support for Young Adults: Lecture at GDC Bishnah | GDC Udhampur organizes awareness programme | Jammu Police started proceedings under section 82 CrPc against a Psa Absconder | Amit chairs meeting in Ladakh | Two persons injured in scuffle in Bemina Srinagar | Back Issues  
 
news details
Kashmiri migrants rue lack of awareness about change in voting pattern in DDC polls
11/29/2020 11:22:18 PM

Early Times Report

Jammu, Nov 29: Kashmiri migrants have welcomed the poll panel’s decision to do away with the cumbersome Form M to participate in the electoral process, but rue that lack of awareness regarding the development led to poor turnout of the community in the recent District Development Council polls.
The State Election Commission (SEC) in Jammu and Kashmir had this time ordered transfer of votes of Kashmiri migrants from their native constituencies in Kashmir Valley to the polling stations set up for them in Jammu and Udhampur.
Earlier, Kashmiri migrants used to vote in transitory camps set up outside the Valley in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi. They were supposed to fill and submit Form M before exercising their right to vote.
The scheme was devised to help the Kashmiri migrant population living in various parts of the country to vote during the elections to the legislative assembly in September-October 2002 and the general elections in 2004, 2009 and 2014, officials said.
"The last minute change in the procedure for voting for Kashmiri migrants and lack of awareness resulted in confusion among the community members,” Nidhi Bhat, who voted in the District Development Council (DDC) polls held on Saturday, said.
She said there would have been large-scale polling by the Kashmiri migrants if the election body had adequately publicised about the new direct voting pattern.
"My vote is for the safe return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) in a satellite township. We hope the government will soon fulfil our demand,” Nidhi said.
Nidhi’s sister, Sheetu Bhat, who came from Delhi to vote in the DDC polls, said it was her first experience of participating in an electoral exercise.
"I am happy to vote for the first time as the process of filing up M-form has been done away with. I thank the poll body for bringing this change,” Sheetu, who voted in Jammu, said.
Many migrant voters also alleged that last minute changes in polling stations also prevented them from casting their votes.
Ashok Dhar, a voter of Pahalgam constituency, complained that he was unable to vote this time despite exercising his right to vote in the last Assembly and parliamentary elections.
"I could not cast my vote. There was confusion over the polling station and lack of awareness regarding the new polling mechanism,” he said.
The polling officials, however, argued that enough publicity was made to make people aware about the new voting mechanism.
“The SEC had made elaborate publicity of the new process of polling for KPs and advertisements were given in newspapers,” Relief Commissioner T K Bhat said.
He said vehicles were kept at 14 places to ferry Kashmiri migrant voters from various places, including the Jagti township to polling station at Gandhinagar.
The official though admitted to low voter turnout among the community.
Bhatt said as per poll figures, only 36 votes were polled by Kashmiri migrants, including 32 in Jammu and four in Udhampur.
He said Kashmiri migrants were entitled to vote in 25 constituencies of Kashmir Valley.
"Out of these 25 constituencies, no Kashmiri migrant voted in 10 constituencies,” the relief commissioner said.
BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pandita also agreed that there was a need for wide publicity through all forms of media to inform the Kashmiri migrants about the polling stations and new method of voting.
"We will reach out to the community to make them aware about the direct voting pattern. The SEC and relief department should also launch awareness campaigns in this regard for the next seven phases of polling,” he said.
Senior NC leader M K Yogi said there was confusion among the Kashmiri migrants whether to vote through postal ballots, M-forms or direct voting.
"Nobody knew where to vote or what method to vote. The SEC failed to publicise the new voting pattern among the community,” he alleged.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU