J-K Guv thanks administration, people for peaceful elections

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday expressed his gratitude to the administration and the public alike as the local body elections in the state concluded peacefully.

"I would like to thank everyone-- the police, the administration, other security forces, and the people. It is because of them that the elections were concluded peacefully, without violence," Governor Malik said.

He categorically thanked the people in the state for coming out to vote.

"I would especially like to thank the people for coming out and vote. It is a positive sign that people came out to vote on the last day. As many as 10,000 people came out to vote in Srinagar. The development is taking place gradually," he said.

Though the governor refused to comment on the candidates who won, he assured of extending his support in every way possible. "No matter who becomes the Mayor, all we want is to extend them all the support we can from the Centre and the state," he said.

Speaking about the ground level situation in the state, Governor Malik said, "We are making efforts to make the situation better at ground level."

In total, 52 civic bodies went to polls in four phases from October 8 to October 16 amid tight security arrangements in the state. A total of 3,372 nominations were filed for 1,145 wards. The results came out October 20.

Out of 79 municipal bodies, 27 did not go to polls owing either to the fact that there was no candidate or that only one candidate had filed nominations for a particular ward.