TALKING POINT

By voting in large numbers, the people of Kashmir have expressed their readiness to resolve pressing issues peacefully

- TARIQ BHAT

The Lok Sabha elections marked the first major political exercise in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the state into two Union territories. The elections got over with the sixth phase of polling on May 25. In Kashmir, the turnout went up to 58 per cent, surpassing the previous highest of 49 per cent in 2014.

“It is the highest turnout for these five constituencies in the last 40 years,” said chief electoral officer P.K. Pole. It marks the end of the election boycott in Kashmir since the eruption of militancy in the late 1980s, paving the way for greater participation of people and separatist groups in the assembly elections later this year.

The three constituencies in Kashmir—Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri—saw a record turnout. Srinagar, known for poll boycotts, recorded 38 per cent, the highest in 25 years. In Baramulla, 59 per cent of voters cast their ballots, beating 46.65 per cent in 1996.

In 2019, when Rajouri and Poonch were not part of the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, voter participation stood at a mere 8.9 per cent. The Delimitation Commission expanded the constituency’s boundaries across the Pir Panjal to include Jammu’s Rajouri and Poonch, in 2022. These areas are largely inhabited by the Pahari community, tribal Gujjars and Bakerwals. On May 25, voter turnout here climbed up to 54.3 per cent. The surge in turnout can be attributed to several factors. There has been a political void because of the absence of a representative government following the collapse of the PDP-BJP alliance in June 2018. Second, there is a strong feeling of disempowerment among the people following the revocation of Article 370. Finally, the influence of separatist groups advocating for election boycott has waned.