Jammu:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is happy over the huge turnout for the four seats in the Legislative Council elections on Monday, which has proved wrong the "experts" who had written "obituaries of the Panchayati Raj" in the state.
Mr Abdullah wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter on Tuesday: "Good to see the turnout yesterday especially after experts had written the obituaries for Panchayati Raj in the state."
He was referring to some columnists who had written that not many Panchayat members would vote because of the fear of militants and their disillusionment over the real powers to them despite promises for devolution by the government and the Chief Minister.
According to election authorities, more than 96 percent of the 33,500 village council members and heads from 4,130 Panchayats across the state cast ballot in the polls, held after nearly three decades.
Counting of votes is slated for December 6.