Electricity, water and development schemes, key factors influencing polls in Kashmir

With general elections in full swing throughout the country, people in Kashmir are looking to vote for eligible candidates who will address the glaring issues of power and water supply and enhance development schemes in their area.

"People are excited to cast their vote; atleast 70 percent of the people are expected to cast their vote in Uri town. We will vote for an eligible candidate who addresses our issuess. The conditions in Uri town are really bad, look at the roads, filter plants here. We use dirty water. If you come with me I will show you a filter plant in which you will find dead animals, no one is looking after that. The power conditions are bad too. We receive electricity for one hour and then the supply is cut off for the next six hours," a resident, Shakeel Ahmed, said.

Residents here also complain that there has been failure in providing education and employment to the youth.

"Regarding elections, I would like to say that we would elect a candidate who will address our issues. There is no proper development work here, there is unemployment and lack of education , welfare work here is very less," another resident, Tariq Ahmed, said.

Elections in Kashmir are scheduled to be held on May seventh. The constituencies here include three districts, Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla.

The authorities here will set up 1616 polling stations for around 11.51 lakh electorates. Baramulla alone will have 822 polling stations for 5.65 lakh voters.

North Kashmir is considered to be the most sensitive area in the whole valley.

Militants killed three men in the restive Kashmir region on Monday, police said, in attacks that appeared intended to intimidate residents who are due to vote in a general election this week.

The execution-style attacks targeted two village council heads.