Poor voter turnout in recent Jammu and Kashmir local body polls has thrown up a grim picture as the central government attempts to establish grassroots democracy in the Valley. Although the centre terms the polls held in Kashmir a "victory for democracy", a closer look reveals that the voter turnout was abysmal in many areas. It was worst in South Kashmir, where only 8 per cent people came out to vote. In simple terms, only 11,888 of the 1,47,578 registered voters showed up to vote. Officials link it to high levels of alienation.
