Local issues determine voter engagement in J&K

Low voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir reflects voters prioritising local issues in their decisions.

- BADAR BASHIR

As voting concludes in Jammu and Kashmir, the electorate has cast their ballots with a focus on local issues that they feel have not been adequately addressed during the governor's rule. The contesting candidates, in 90 Assembly seats, have also picked up affairs concerning the betterment of the voters. A political researcher based in Kashmir, Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander said, "The low voting percentage in Srinagar and many parts of Kashmir, brings forward the fact that people have different preferences while voting. The trends across India depict that those with decent income are not bothered about who comes to power. So, they prefer not to join the electoral process as voters. Same is in the case of Kashmir." "Those who want genuine issues to be addressed like roads, electricity, clean water and unemployment, apart from the bigger issues such as the issue of statehood have voted in droves. Therefore, m