Asif Iqbal
Srinagar, Dec 8 (GNS): The results of much talked about District Development Council (DDC) polls for two seats – Drugmulla in Kupwara and Hajin-A in Bandipora, held earlier this week were announced on Thursday. The seats had fallen vacant after the State Election Commission (SEC) rejected the candidature of two contesting candidates, in December 2020, over their ‘dubious credentials’.
Drugmulla in Kupwara witnessed a close contest between Independent candidate Advocate Aamina Majeed and Peoples Conference candidate Shabnam Rehman. Even as the latter took a lead in the second round, it was Aamina who prevailed in the end to clinch the win with a bare margin of 39 votes. As Aamina, who people believe received support from the National Conference, secured a total of 3259 votes, Shabnam on the other side bagged 3220 votes.
Apni Party candidate Hameeda Begum garnered 1474 votes and was followed by Bharatiya Janata Party’s Shakeela Akhter who got 877 votes. Shabroz Hassan from Indian National Congress got 746 votes while Rifat Jan Independent got 612, Rafiqa Bano Independent got 123, Hafeeza Begum Independent got 62, Gulshan Begum Independent got 34 and Saima Begum Independent got 28 votes.
Out of 10675 votes polled, a total of 240 votes were declared as invalid.
The winning candidate Aamina Majeed is a lawyer by profession and member of District Bar Association Kupwara.
On the other hand, Naza Begum, believed to have received support from the Altaf Bukhari led Apni Party, registered a comprehensive win. Naza Begum secured 2606 and was followed by Peoples Conference candidate Ateeqa Bano who got 2283 votes. On the other hand Kulsooma Begum of Bharatiya Janata Party has secured 387 votes and Independent candidate Zahida Begum 315.
A total of 323 votes were declared as invalid, the official figures revealed.
The counting of DDC Drugmulla was held at ITI Kupwara and counting for Hajin-A was held at DC office Bandipora amid tight security arrangements.
The polling held on December 5, 2022 (Monday) in the two constituencies simultaneously, saw days of intense road-side and door-to-door campaigning. The supporters, especially women folk, braving severe chill came out of their homes in groups to vote for their respective candidates.
Hajin (A) in Bandipora saw a voter turnout of 53.27%, with 4708 males and 3982 females out of 16000 electorate, while as Drugmulla in Kupwara however witnessed less voter percentage. Out of a total of 32000 electorate, the constituency recorded 32.73% turnout as 5624 males and 5109 females came out to exercise their right of franchise.
Pertinent to mention here, that DDC elections took place in December 2020. The counting of votes was nonetheless withheld in Drugmulla and Hajin (A) owing to ‘dubious credentials’ of two candidates – Soomia Sadaf and Shazia Aslam. The State Election Commission (SEC) later on declared the polling in the two constituencies as void even as cancelling the candidature of both the candidates ab-initio, thereby directing for fresh polls on the two unfulfilled seats. (GNS)
