First phase of polling date for Udhampur-Doda LS seat falls on Friday

DODA — As the campaigning for the Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency is in full swing with political parties trying to get people on their side, the people of Chenab Valley have some reservations towards the polling day which is falling on Friday, April 19.

While speaking to the news agency KNO, the people of Chenab valley expressed that they will be losing time on the polling as it falls on Friday.

“On Friday from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, all Muslims head towards Masjids (mosques) for prayers and they even close all of their business establishments. There will be very few people in polling stations during this time which will have an impact on the voting percentage as well,” said Bashir Ahmed, a shopkeeper.

The Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency comprises five districts of Jammu region including Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda and out of these five districts, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar (part of Chenab valley) are Muslim majority areas. This constituency is going to poll during the first phase on April 19, which falls on Friday.

Even the non-Muslims of the area feel that it will certainly have an impact on the voting percentage as most of the Muslims will not be able to vote during the prayer time.

“Muslims mostly go for prayers on Friday and polling stations are certainly going to give a deserted look. The polling should have been on any other day except Friday. As the date has already been notified, people will have to adjust accordingly,” said Rishi Kumar, a resident of Kishtwar district.

The Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat is going to witness one of the biggest rivalries between Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Jitendra Singh (MoS in PMO) and former MP and Congress leader Choudhary Lal Singh.

Both the leaders will be eyeing to get maximum Muslim votes from Chenab valley and secure the win but apprehensions of less voting percentage due to polling day falling on Friday will have a negative impact.