BARAMULLA: The Baramulla-Kupwara Lok Sabha constituency in North Kashmir witnessed an unprecedented voter turnout of 59%, marking the highest ever recorded for the constituency, according to J&K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P.K. Pole. He claimed that the milestone was reached without any incidents of violence.
In a press conference held in Srinagar, CEO P.K. Pole announced, “The people of Baramulla have made history today with the highest poll percentage ever recorded for the parliamentary seat and an election day free from violence.”
This significant achievement highlights the growing confidence in the democratic process among the local populace.
The polling stations, totaling 2,103 across the constituency, were closely monitored through CCTV surveillance to ensure a smooth and transparent election. Despite some complaints about slow polling, investigations confirmed that polling staff were performing their duties diligently and effectively.
The highest polling percentage was recorded in the Handwara assembly segment, with a turnout of 67.5%, while the Gurez assembly segment saw the lowest at 44%. In the Sopore segment, the poll percentage increased dramatically from 4% in 2019 to 44% this year, showcasing a significant rise in voter engagement.
Pole provided a historical comparison of polling percentages for the Baramulla Parliamentary constituency: 2019: 34.57%, 2014: 39.13%, 2009: 41.84%, 2004: 35.65%, 1999: 27.79%, 1998: 41.94%, 1996: 46.65%.
Voters in Soibugh, part of the Baramulla constituency and the hometown of Syed Salahuddin, the Pakistan-based leader of the Hizbul Mujahideen, were also seen queuing up before polling satiations. Many voters saw this election as an opportunity to express their views following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Among the 22 candidates contesting the election are prominent figures such as Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference, and independent candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid.
This election marks the first major electoral exercise in the Union Territory post the abrogation of Article 370, a significant political development for the region.
Despite the overall peaceful conduct of the elections, there were isolated incidents of violence. In Pattan town, a police officer and a polling officer were injured in separate assaults by political workers. Both individuals were treated at Trauma Hospital Pattan before being referred to GMC Baramulla.
Eyewitnesses reported the altercation between supporters of Jammu Kashmir Peoples Conference leader Imran Reza Ansari and the police in Pattan.
In another incident, a polling officer was assaulted by political workers at a polling station in Devar Pattan. The police have registered an FIR against Imran Ansari and his supporters and are investigating the assault on the polling officer.
When contacted, SHO Pattan Khalid Fayaz told a local news gathering agency, KNT, that he was present at a polling station at KP Payeen Hanjiveera. “Everything was normal but Imran Ansari and his supporters who appeared at the polling station tried to create disturbance. They tried to break the doors and window of the polling station and when we tried to intervene, he (Imran Ansari) and his supporters assaulted me,” he said adding that after the attack, Ansar and his supporters fled away from the spot.
SHO Pattan was taken to Trauma Hospital Pattan where he was referred to Government Medical College Baramulla.
This is the highest-ever polling since 1989 in the constituency, whose map was altered in the delimitation of 2022. It is only two percent less than the total votes polled in 1984 when elections were held in a peaceful atmosphere before the outbreak of insurgency in 1989-90.
In 1984, Baramulla witnessed 61.1% polling. In the subsequent elections which were held in the winter of 1989 when militancy broke out in Kashmir and took the Valley by storm, only 5.48% votes were polled.
In 1996 and 1998, amidst allegations of massive scale of coercive voting, Baramulla registered 46.7% and 41.94% polling respectively.
The votes polled dropped to 27.8% in 1999 but steadily picked up in the following parliamentary elections.
In 2004 and 2009, Baramulla witnessed 35.5% and 41.8% polling respectively. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, the polling slightly dropped to 39.1% and 38.9%.
| Year | Baramulla |
| 1984 | 61.1% |
| 1989 | 5.48% |
| 1996 | 46.7% |
| 1998 | 41.94% |
| 1999 | 27.8% |
| 2004 | 35.5% |
| 2009 | 41.8% |
| 2014 | 39.1% |
| 2019 | 38.9% |
This is the first major election in Jammu and Kashmir since its special status and statehood were scrapped by the Bharatiya Janata Party government in August 2019. Srinagar-Pulwama constituency voted on May 13 and Anantnag-Rajouri will vote on May 25.
Earlier Srinagar witnessed its highest-ever polling since 1989 at nearly 40%.
The high voter turnout is being seen as an outcome of lack of political representation in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018. Neither any parliamentary election nor an assembly election has been held in the state since 2014.
The high voter turnout is also being seen as a resistance to New Delhi’s scorched earth policy of suppressing Kashmiris, marginalising political voices and cracking down on dissent through a slew of measures like detentions, raids, criminal cases, job terminations, no-fly list and passport suspensions etc.
However, soon after the Srinagar polling, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that this was a demonstration of support for the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution.
Political analysts reject this theory and observe that the vote in Kashmir is both an expression of anger and their resentment against the revocation of Article 370.
The Baramulla Lok Sabha seat contest is a three-way race involving Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, Sajjad Lone of the People’s Conference, and Engineer Rashid of the Awami Itehad Party.
A former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah is in one of the toughest electoral battles of his career. Initially expected to contest from Srinagar, Abdullah shifted to Baramulla, emphasizing his deep connection to the region through his representation of the Beerwah Assembly segment, now part of Baramulla after delimitation.
While he alleges Lone as a proxy for the BJP, Lone is challenging Abdullah by portraying him as an out-of-touch elite and a “tourist.” Lone’s campaign is bolstered by support from the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, which is seen as aligned with the BJP, raising questions about Lone’s independent stance.
Running from jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Rashid’s candidacy introduced a new dynamic to the race. His campaign, led by his son Abrar Rashid, focuses on the release of detained youths, which resonated deeply with many families affected by such incarcerations. Rashid’s rallies draw significant youth support, driven by a sympathy factor and his reputation as a former MLA from north Kashmir’s Langate area.
Ladakh Parliamentary Constituency
The intense three-way race for Ladakh’s sole Lok Sabha seat saw a voter turnout of 67.15 percent by 5 pm on Monday. This figure was anticipated to rise as polling continued until 6 pm.
In the Shia Muslim-majority Kargil district, the voter turnout was 71.45 percent by 5 pm, compared to 62.5 percent in the Buddhist-majority Leh district.
Overall, the voting percentage in Ladakh has declined since the previous few parliamentary elections. The Ladakh constituency recorded a voter turnout of 71.05 percent in 2019, 71.40 percent in 2014, and 73.52 percent in 2004.
This election marks the first significant electoral event in Ladakh, since it was designated a Union Territory following its separation from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated.
National party candidates Tashi Gyalson (BJP) and Tsering Namgyal (Congress) are facing formidable competition from independent candidate and National Conference (NC) rebel Haji Hanifa Jan.
According to political observers, Hanifa Jan has an edge over two other contestants as she enjoys mass support in Kargil district. “The votes in Leh will be divided between BJP and Congress candidates, while in Kargil the votes may go to Hanifa Jan with less chances of division of votes,” they said.
(With inputs from Multimedia Team: Mehroob Mushtaq, Numan Bhat, Syeda Sakeena and Suhaib Ibn Rafiq in Kashmir)
—–
Have you liked the news article?