Fourth phase of Lok sabha elections 2024: 36.58% voter turnout in Srinagar PC, Is ‘Naya Kashmir’ emerging!!
In the fourth phase of Lok sabha elections 2024 a beautiful picture of Naya Kashmir is emerging in which democracy is blossoming. It is decades after that long queues of voters seen outside polling stations in Chadoora, Budgam, Yaar Mukam Gandharbal and many other places.
One can’t imagine that this is the picture of the same Kashmir where Hartal Calanders were issued, shops were seen shot and stone pelting was the routine job.
The voters were full of enthusiasm. According to ECI data at 8 PM yesterday, Srinagar records highest voter turnout of 36.58% since 1996. The highest voter turnout in Srinagar seat in last three decades was in 1996 general elections when the seat saw 40.9 % voter turnout. In 1998, the turnout was 30% while it was 11.9% in 1999. In 2004, the turnout in Srinagar was 18.6 per cent, as per Election Commission of India records. The Srinagar seat, comprising volatile old-city areas of Srinagar city apart from Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian districts, has registered low voter turnout in last few decades. In 1989, the first general election after insurgency broke out in the valley say about 5% voter turn out. The only candidate from NC won the election unopposed.In 2019 elections, the seat recorded 14.43 per cent voter turnout. Farooq Abdullah of National Conference won the seat. In 2014, the seat recorded 25.8% voter turn out and in 2009, the voter turnout was 25.6%.
So the increase in voter turnout is pleasing & it shows the faith of the people in democracy is blossoming. It is also amazing that main stream political parties like PDP and NC and others are showing their concerns that administration has not allowed them to visit some places in their constituencies instead of fear of terrorist as their concern earlier was.
The question which erupted in the mind of the people was what has changed the mind of the people after the abrogation of article 370 and section 35 A.
The false narrative which was set up by the separatists and feeded by the mainstream practical parties up to some extent is now coming to an end the network of stone pelting and hawala money has already wiped out.
People are know feeling mentally free and now able to watch the things in the right perspective.
The hallow slogans of Azadi, Self Rule & Autonomy are now seems to them as pranks and their able to see where the future belongs.
The growing number of tourists, peace and increasing economy has boosted their morale. it is also seen that large number of female participated in the electoral democracy.
This is first time that there were no protests, no threatening Posters & no announcements of Bycott from the loudspeakers of the mosques.
It seems that everything has changed now. Article 370 and 35 A which were the hindrance in the complete integration of the Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country are the things of the past now and voters have their choice for their future.
Now it seems that the dreams of Naya Kashmir is unfolding and the time will come when Jammu and Kashmir will again rejuvenate like Phoneix from its ashes.
Rahul Sambyal Author
