Dooru Shahabad (Anantnag), Sep 18 (KNO): As the ten-year wait for assembly elections ended, the voters in Omoh hamlet in the Dooru segment in south Kashmir's Anantnag district were enthusiastic and happy to cast their ballots for the first time after the bifurcation of the erstwhile J&K state.
Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), one of the voters, Riyaz Ahmad Padder, at Polling Booth-41, said, “We feel happy and joyous to choose our representative after a gap of ten years. The people were so eager that they even arrived at the polling booth before it opened.”
Ahmad said voters were turning out for multiple reasons. “Primarily, we have been observing the manifesto of every political party, and this time we are voting to choose our own representative who will work on restoring the rights that have been taken from us,” he said.
Meanwhile, a 68-year-old voter, Mohammad Fareed, at the Omoh polling station said, “I am casting my ballot for development.” Fareed added that he has never missed a chance to vote.
At this polling booth, several first-time voters expressed their hope that the local representative they elect will work to provide jobs.
One first-time voter, Mohammad Shareef, said, “I am optimistic that my vote will bring positive change. I am choosing a representative who will speak on our behalf and address the unemployment in the area.”
Another first-time voter, Tawseef Ahmad, said, “I cast my ballot to choose the representative who will work on restoring Article 370.”
Ahmad added, “The abrogation of Article 370 has led to unemployment here, and I believe that choosing the right representative can help reverse this decision.”—(KNO)