Palhalan voters end years of boycott for development

Palhalan, Oct 1: The voters in the Palhalan area of Baramulla district on Tuesday came out in large numbers to cast their votes with expectations of development in the area.

Once a prominent boycott bastion, the voters during phase III of the Assembly elections reached the polling booths early morning to cast their vote.

The participation of both male and female voters including youth was seen at the polling stations.

“Our area was tagged a boycott area due to which we were deprived of development all these years. Today we all have decided to vote and elect our representative and get our basic issues and demands addressed,” an elderly voter at Palhallan said.

The voters said that the area would be developed only if they elected their representatives.

“Earlier we used to side with boycotts but now we realise that wasting our vote will not yield any result. Not only elders but all young voters have come out to vote today,” Shabir Ahmad Bhat, a voter from New Colony Palhallan said.

The voters highlighted various issues of the area including bad condition of roads and lack of other basic amenities.

"Our electricity bills have become unaffordable. We are facing an acute shortage of drinking water facilities. We hope that after participating in the election we can seek the attention of the government, particularly our representatives towards our area," he said.

From morning to late afternoon, voters were seen standing in long queues signaling the enthusiasm among voters of all age groups to participate in the democratic process.

“During past years, siding with boycott only added to our miseries and it did not yield us anything but neglect from the government,” said Bilal Ahmed, a first-timer casting his vote.

The voters said that preferring ballots over boycotts would bring a better tomorrow and expressed hope that the area would get the basic amenities.

“The lack of basic facilities in the area is the only reason to cast our vote today. We are hopeful that by voting, we can bring development and improve the basic amenities,” another voter said.