Srinagar: Areas recognized for ballot boycotts and terror threats immediately had been bustling with electoral exercise. Whether it was Pulwama or downtown Srinagar, Kashmir witnessed brisk polling after three a long time.
The Kakpora Polling Station in Pulwama, South Kashmir, as soon as infamous for grenade assaults, firing, and stone pelting throughout previous elections, noticed lengthy traces of individuals ready to forged their votes immediately.
This enthusiasm wasn’t confined to 1 polling station however was evident throughout Pulwama and Shopian, areas lengthy thought of hotbeds of separatist and terrorist actions. Long queues had been noticed in all areas since polling commenced, together with within the villages of outstanding figures like terrorist Riyaz Naiko and Burhan Wani’s hometown of Traal. The message was clear: Kashmiris have begun to belief the electoral course of, recognizing the ability of their vote to deal with their grievances.
This election marks the Kashmir valley’s first main electoral occasion because the abrogation of Article 370, and the keenness amongst voters is palpable. From Srinagar to Pulwama, many citizens interviewed by ZeeNews expressed varied motivations, from voting to revive Article 370 to addressing points like statehood, employment, excessive electrical energy payments, and on a regular basis issues. Particularly noteworthy had been the first-time voters, totaling 2 lakh this time, who displayed pleasure and eagerness for change at virtually each polling station visited.
For the primary time in three a long time, the Kashmir valley is experiencing an election comparatively freed from separatist boycotts and violence. Turnout was practically thrice greater than within the 2019 elections, with reviews indicating that even members of the family of some terrorists and separatists in South Kashmir forged their votes.
The voting share within the Kashmir valley has considerably elevated in comparison with earlier elections, reaching above 37.73%. Although polling formally ended at 6 PM, voters remained queued at polling stations, suggesting the full share may surpass 40%, marking a historic excessive for the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency within the final three a long time.
A comparability between the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections reveals a notable enhance in voter turnout:
– In 2019, the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency, comprising 15 meeting constituencies, witnessed a complete of 11,06,729 voters casting 14.1% of votes.
– In distinction, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections noticed 18 meeting constituencies within the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, with 17,47,810 voters. As of 9 PM, the polling share stood at 36.88%, indicating a major rise in voter participation.
The Srinagar parliamentary constituency is presently witnessing a triangular contest between National Conference’s Agha Ruhullah Mehdi, PDP’s Waheed-u-Rehman Parra, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, a candidate from one other occasion.
Today’s polling within the Kashmir Valley, performed amid tight safety, noticed a complete of 17,47,810 voters, together with 8,75,938 male voters, 8,71,808 feminine voters, and 64 third-gender voters. About 2,135 polling stations had been arrange throughout 5 districts: Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Ganderbal, and Shopian.
The elevated voter turnout displays the rising belief of atypical Kashmiris within the electoral course of. Regardless of their causes for voting, Kashmiris, particularly the youth, consider within the transformative energy of the poll to form their future and amplify their voices within the highest democratic establishment, the Parliament.
