New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited Friday the decision to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir for the high voter turnout in the state’s first-ever Block Development Council (BDC) polls.
“Thanks to the decisions of the Indian Parliament, young and dynamic representatives will shape the destiny of the people of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir,” Narendra Modi said in a tweet.
The first-ever BDC polls in Jammu and Kashmir recorded a 98.3 per cent voter turnout Thursday. Twenty seven candidates, including 22 from the BJP were elected unopposed. The Congress, the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had boycotted the election.
“I once again congratulate MPs across party lines for the historic decisions on J&K. It would make India’s Parliament proud that due to their historic decision in August this year, the people of J&K have been able to exercise their democratic right with exceptional enthusiasm, as seen in the historic turnout of 98% that too without violence or disturbance,” the prime minister said in another tweet.
“I am delighted to share that the BDC polls in Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh were conducted in a very peaceful manner. There was no violence. This shows the people’s unwavering faith in democracy and the importance they accord to grassroots level governance,” Modi added.
The voters in the BDC polls are the sarpanchs and panchs elected in last year’s panchayat polls.
PTI
