Anantnag recorded a 33.84 per cent turnout for the by-elections on Wednesday, up by five per cent compared to the 2014 Assembly polls, as women came out in large numbers. Eight candidates, including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference’s Iftikhar Misger and Congress’s Hilal Shah, are in the fray.
Voting started on a slow note. Around noon, several booths such as Rainipora, Seepan and Muniward witnessed brisk polling. “We face hardships on the development front. We do not want to lag behind on the development agenda,” said Rashid Ahmad, a voter.
A large number of women voters were seen outside booths such as Muniwar. “We are hopeful of change this time. Our vote is for the one who will safeguard J&K’s special status. This is not a vote against any ideology,” said Shahista Jan, a first-time voter. Of the 23,801 votes polled till 3 p.m., 10,853 votes were cast by women.
Several first-time voters clicked selfies with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti when she visited a booth. At least 368 migrant Pandits also voted in Jammu.
According to Chief Electoral officer Shantmanu, of the total 84,067 electors, including 4,229 migrant voters, a total of 28,446 cast their votes. “Around 15,384 males, 13,062 females and 638 migrant voters exercised their franchise,” he added.
However, Anantnag town remained aloof from the voting. There were also clashes between security forces and protesters in the town’s Cheeni Chowk area. These clashes came in the backdrop of a joint poll boycott call by separatists and militants.
In 2014, Anantnag witnessed just 28 per cent polling. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed defeated Congress candidate Hilal Shah by 6,000 votes then. It was after the demise of Mr. Sayeed on January 7 that the seat fell vacant.
Ms. Mufti has to get elected to the Assembly within six months of her taking over as Chief Minister, making it a crucial battle for her. On the other hand, the Congress and the National Conference wants to ride on the anti-BJP wave to corner Ms. Mufti.
The Congress accused the PDP of using “muscle power during the poll”. A Congress spokesman alleged that “the PDP-BJP coalition used official machinery and goons to get votes”.
