People queue up for Bijli, Sadak, Pani in Budgam

Bumpy roads, unattended drains, stinking water ponds, daily power outages, water crisis and lack of development drove people in large numbers to polling booths in this central Kashmir’s Budgam district, with voters saying that they voted to bring prosperity to the area.
The voters, who lined up outside Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Budgam to cast the ballot, said all the successive governments have ignored Budgam constituency segment.
“I don’t expect anything. I want my area developed, prosperous,” said 97-year-old Ghulam Ahmad of Budgam township.
“I have voted several times but nothing good has happened in my area. We continue to face lot of hardships as far as development is concerned,” he said.
Despite severe cold, people were marching towards the polling booths and long queues of electorates were seen outside the polling booths.
“I never stayed away from polling. But we have been the unfortunate people of most unfortunate district,” said another voter, Sanullah Ganai of Budgam.
A large group of voters waiting outside the polling stations, who had exercised their franchise, were cheering in favour of NC’s  leader and sitting MLA Aga Syed Ruhullah .
“He is a non-controversial leader and will emerge as a winner ,” they said.
“Ruhullah is a very nice person. But he needs to work on his constituency,” said Atika Bano, who has been a die heart fan of NC.
“I am voting in favour of Shiekh Sahab, to his party and his character.”
Anti-incumbency against the two-time sitting MLA in some areas seems to be one of the factors why people want change.
“I have never seen our MLA. He has never bothered to meet us, so we want change of guard,” said Bilal Ahmed of Haran segment of Budgam constituency.
The workers of PDP candidate, Muntazir Mohi-ud-Din,  accused NC candidate of resorting to “nepotism” as he focused only on his own area.
“You come here some other day, you will find our womenfolk colleting water from dirty ponds, see the roads and see the development of the area,” said Shabir Ahmed, who introduced himself as a PDP supporter. “This time we need change of system.”
Aat around 3 pm, supporters of NC MLA allegedly thrashed some young supporters of PDP candidate, pushing them out of polling booth (B) at Budgam township.
Eyewitnesses said one Ghulam Muhammad Hajam, a close aide of sitting MLA resorted to manhandling of some PDP supporters, forcing security men at the polling booth to push them out of station.
In Budgam constituency segment, PDP’s Muntazir Mohi-ud-din, an employee turned social activist turned political leader  and NC’s Aga Ruhullah will be having a tough fight.
Mohi-ud-din said  dynastic politics in Budgam by Agha family should go while Ruhullah hopes that Budgam will achieve “new heights” if he comes to the power again.

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