New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets on October 25 that the news about a peaceful maiden Block Development Council (BDC) elections with a “historic” more than 98 per cent turnout in Jammu and Kashmir would make every Indian proud, even as he congratulated the victorious candidates that included 200 independents and 81 from BJP.
“News that would make every Indian proud! For the first time since 1947, Block Development Council elections were held in Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh on the 24th. The polls witnessed a historic turnout of 98%. There were over 1080 candidates in the fray in 310 blocks,” Modi said in a tweet.
“I congratulate all those who have emerged victorious in the BDC polls across Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh. This marks the dawn of a new and youthful leadership across the regions, which will make a monumental contribution to national progress in the times to come,” he tweeted.
The Congress, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and CPI(M) had boycotted the BDC polls that were held on party basis, leaving the field open to the independents and the BJP which had fielded candidates in 280 blocks.
There are 316 blocks in the state, but the elections were held in 310 of these as two are without elected panches and sarpanches, and four blocks reserved for women have no women candidates, officials said.
“Thanks to the decisions of the Indian Parliament, young and dynamic representatives will shape the destiny of the people of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir. I once again congratulate MPs across Party lines for the historic decisions on J&K,” Modi tweeted.
“It would make India’s Parliament proud that due to their historic decision in August this year, the people of J&K have been able to exercise their democratic right with exceptional enthusiasm, as seen in the historic turnout of 98% that too without violence or disturbance,” the Prime Minister added.
-nad
