‘Peaceful’ Srinagar polls push turnout to 36% in first Parliament election after 2019

Many voters credit higher turnout to the post-2019 poll narrative of the regional parties with the candidates promising restoration of Article 370 and release of youths from jails

Voters queue up to cast their ballots at a polling station during the fourth phase of voting in general election, in Ganderbal district, Central Kashmir on May 13, 2024. | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD

Polling in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, the first since Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was scrapped in 2019, on Monday reported no incident of militant violence and registered a voter turnout of 35.97% till 5 p.m., which is the highest since 1989. However, the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) complained about “official intervention to bring down poll percentage”.

“Poll percentage until 5 p.m. stood at 36%, marking the second highest turnout since 1989. Not even a single polling booth witnessed zero percent polling in Srinagar parliamentary constituency,” J&K chief electoral officer P.K Pole said. In the 1996 election, Srinagar recorded 40.94% amid allegations of coercion.

Mr. Pole said the polls remained peaceful. “Preventive measures were taken in cases where individuals had a criminal background or anti-national history to ensure polling stations remained incident-free,” he added.

New voting pattern

Compared to the past, a new voting pattern was observed across 18 Assembly segments spread over five districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Pulwama and Shopian. Militancy hotbeds of Pulwama and Shopian surpassed the previous low voter turnout records, which remained in single digits since 2009. This time, Pulwama district’s Pampore area saw 35.86% voting, Pulwama 39.25%, Rajpora 42.80%, and Tral 37.52%. Shopian district also recorded 45.04%.

Voters queue up to cast their ballots at a polling station during the fourth phase of voting in general election, in Ganderbal district, central Kashmir on May 13, 2024. | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD

Many voters credited higher turnout to the post-2019 poll narrative of the regional parties, with the candidates promising restoration of Article 370, release of youths from jails, lifting curtailment over freedom of expression and securing jobs and land for locals.

In Pulwama’s Karimabad, once a no-go zone for mainstream political parties because of the domination of local militants, many voters saw this election as “a means to end the ongoing raids by security agencies”.

“Pulwama district just saw raids and slapping of the Public Safety Act (PSA) on youths after 2019. Voting is a means to bring a change and end the sense of fear,” said a young voter in Karimabad.

PDP candidate Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra posed for a picture with the father of a slain militant. “In Aglar, Pulwama, every household bears the weight of a militant’s grave. Today, Qadir Kak, who lost his son to militancy, is voting to prevent more children from becoming collateral damage,” Mr. Parra said.

Unlike rural pockets of south Kashmir that saw brisk polling, urban pockets of Srinagar district recorded relatively less poll percentage, with Channapora recording 22.97%, Eidgah 25.68%, Habba Kadal 13.25%, Hazratbal 26.28%, Khanyar 23.06%, Lal Chowk 26.01% and Zadibal 27.52%. Srinagar city would witness the impact of separatists’ boycott call in the past.

“We have voted against the BJP and its designs against Muslims of India. See what happened to Babri Masjid. Also, we fear that rich outsiders will come and buy properties in Srinagar. Article 370 and 35A need to be restored,” said a first-time voter on the condition of anonymity at the Boys Higher Secondary School, Nawakadal, in the heart of the old city.

High power bills

The installation of electricity meters and exorbitant monthly bills remained a common refrain among voters in the city. “Electricity generated in Kashmir is sold outside. Look at the power bills. Ordinary Kashmiris cannot afford them,” said another voter in the downtown city.

In Budgam and Ganderbal districts, the poll percentage was equally healthy. Ganderbal district saw 46.81% in Ganderbal segment and 55.55% in Kangan segment. In Budgam district, Khan Sahib saw 48.50%, Chadoora 46.60%, Char-e-Shareef 53.23% and Khan Sahib 48.50%.

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and two grandsons voted in Srinagar. “On one hand they (the administration) say there is no boycott and no violence, on the other our workers were arrested. I ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister [Amit Shah] why our workers are jailed? Do they fear defeat?“ Dr. Abdullah said.

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah along with his son Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after casting their votes during the fourth phase of Lok Sabha election. | Photo Credit: NISSAR AHMAD

Seconding his father, Mr. Omar Abdullah said: “The NC provided eight names of the party workers and the names of the police stations to the Election Commission of India (ECI)“.

Both NC candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehda and PDP’s Parra accused the administration of intervention in the poll process. “From detention before polling day to CASO (cordon and search operation) a night before the polling to arresting the polling agent from polling stations on the day of polling. Police and the administration are trying everything in their dirty book,” Mr. Mehdi said.

PDP candidate Parra also accused the administration of “slowing down the voting process”. “Many of our polling agents were denied entry into polling booths on different pretexts and the polling process was also slow,” Mr. Parra said.

A total of 17,47,810 lakh voters were registered in the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.

Published - May 13, 2024 11:53 am IST