VP Naidu: 98.3% voter turnout in BDC polls in J&K 'truly remarkable'

Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday took to micro-blogging site Twitter to congratulate people of Jammu and Kashmir for historic BDC polls conducted in Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Lakh on October 24. Venkaiah Naidu wrote that it is truly remarkable that maiden block-level elections in Jammu and Kashmir saw 98.3% people exercising ir franchise. He congratulated people of Jammu, Kashmir and Lakh for reaffirming ir faith in democracy and  ministration for successful conduct of elections.

'It would make India's Parliament proud'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter, on Friday, October 25, to share news about successful BDC polls. For this, he congratulated Indian Parliament for taking historic decision to abrogate Article 370, which ended special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August. PM Modi wrote, "It would make India’s Parliament proud that due to ir historic decision in August this year, people of J&K have been able to exercise ir democratic right with exceptional enthusiasm, as seen in historic turut of 98% that too without violence or disturbance".

BDC poll results

Jammu and Kashmir Block Development elections were held on Thursday and results were declared in evening; while independent candidates won 217 seats,  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC) candidates won 81 seats and one seat respectively. Jammu and Kashmir National Panrs Party won eight seats. This was first electoral exercise in region since revocation of Article 370 on August 5.

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98.3% voter turut

elections were boycotted by regional parties such as National Conference (NC) and  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Jammu and Kashmir Electoral Officer, Shailendra Kumar held a press conference in evening where he said that as per data received by authorities, total voter turut was 98.3%, with Srinagar witnessing highest turut of 100% and Pulwama and Shopian being lowest at 86% and 85%. He also ded that security deployment was same as that of Lok Sabha election, and ditional security was deployed.

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