After she was sworn-in as Jammu and Kashmir’s first woman chief minister on April 4, it became mandatory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader to become a member of either house of the bicameral legislature.
Advertisement
In the 2014 assembly elections, the constituency recorded an overall voter turnout of almost 40 per cent.
Women – young and old alike – jostled to hug Mehbooba and click a selfie with her as the PDP leader, along with her brother Tasaduq Mufti, visited polling booths in the constituency where elections were necessitated due to the death of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7 this year.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength to prevent any untoward from interfering with the election process.
Wednesday was declared a public holiday in Anantnag constituency. He said 77 Micro Observers were deployed on the booths to ensure free and fair polls.
Reports from the rural areas also said early voter enthusiasm and queues of people outside polling stations were conspicuous by their absence. Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, which passes through this town, moved normally.
As her fate was being sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) by the voters, Mehbooba hit out at Muslim clergy of the Valley while replying to debate on grants of departments under her charge in Legislative Assembly this afternoon.
She said is it necessary only to speak against molestation of girls when men in uniform are involved in the crime.
The constituency will go to polls on June 22 and the counting of the votes will take place on June 25.
Mehbooba, now an MP from Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, is locked in a three-corner contest in the by-poll with Hilal Shah of Congress and Iftikar Misger of National Conference. “We need to look for bigger issues that confront people”, said Sameer Ahmad in Anantnag town.
Speaking to IANS after voting, few people aired doubts about Mehbooba Mufti’s victory.
The polling began on a low note from where the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is contesting.
Advertisement
“We know she will not solve worldwide issues but will definitely address unemployment, education, healthcare and give us better roads, and she will also empower women”, an elderly woman voter said after casting her vote. Find us on Facebook too!
