PDP stamp everywhere on Mufti turf

In Bijbehara, Sayeed’s bastion, the clout of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) seemed to be stamped everywhere. Inside the polling booth, PDP workers cast ballots as the police watched.

‘‘We thought the militants would stop us from casting votes. But, it’s our ally PDP which has taken on that role today. Since morning, these people have captured the booth and police is doing nothing,’’ said Sajad Mantoo, a Congress activist.

The allegations of booth-capturing took on a strident note as we drove ahead into the town. The Congress, which was contesting against the candidates of its ally in the government, accused the police and district administration of using the state apparatus to ensure the PDP’s win. Both PDP and Congress heavyweights come from south Kashmir. ‘‘What kind of democracy is this? Our people are being told that a vote in the civic polls is a sellout of martyrs’ blood. But PDP supporters are going in droves to cast their ballot,’’ said Manzoor Ahmad.

PCC president Pirzada Mohammad Sayeed blamed senior PDP leaders for spearheading a drive to rig the elections. He named an inspector, charging him with casting 100 votes at a polling booth. ‘‘In Shopian, Inspector Javid cast 100 votes at a polling booth. He snatched ballot papers and voted. When our supporters tried to intervene, they were beaten by the police. PDP’s Shopian MLA Ghulam Hassan Khan led his supporters and cast hundreds of votes with them. The same was the case in Bijbehara and other areas of Anantnag,’’ said Sayeed.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti denied the allegations but did not rule out fraud at the workers’ level. Speaking to The Indian Express from New Delhi, she said: ‘‘I don’t think our government has at any level used state machinery to influence the outcome of the vote. Same allegations were levelled at us by National Conference president but those proved untrue. I can say with confidence that the government played no partial role in the civic polls. These things could have happened at the workers’ level,’’ said Mufti.

Pulwama notched up record voting figures at nearly 60 per cent. At a polling booth at Prichoo, 50 per cent votes had been cast till 10.30 am. The women clearly outnumbered men here, joining hands to improve the civic infrastructure. ‘‘Our area produced so many politicians but nobody attended to our problems…we have come to vote to elect a person from our ranks who could help us,’’ said Shabnam Khan, a voter.