Anantnag, May 25: Electors in Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency turned out in high numbers to vote in the sixth phase of country-wide Lok Sabha polls, registering a voter turnout of around 53 percent.
“The significant participation of voters, including first-timers, women and senior citizens stands testament to the strength and resilience of democracy in J&K,” Chief Electoral Officer, Pandurang Kondbarao Pole said. “With the conclusion of the Lok Sabha polls in J&K, the union territory registered an unprecedented 58.11 percent polling in its five parliamentary constituencies, highest in the past 35 years.”
The peaceful conduct of polling in the last phase in J&K witnessed around 53 percent voting in the districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, and Poonch besides the Shopian and Rajouri districts partly.
Fractional correction is expected in the percentage figure, as at some of the polling stations voting continued even after 6 pm and many polling parties are yet to reach the reception centre.
This remarkable participation marks a new era of peace and civic engagement in these districts.
This year’s elections were conducted without any boycott calls or intimidation, exhibiting voters’ unwavering belief in the power of ballot. Not a single polling station reported zero voting, a testament to the widespread enthusiasm and commitment to the democratic process.
The corresponding percentage for the last Lok Sabha election in 2019 was 9.70 percent.
Since the eruption of terrorism in J&K, the highest ever poll percentage in the Anantnag parliamentary constituency, was recorded in year 1996 at 50.02 percent.
Hence the poll percentage of 53 percent is the highest in the last 35 years, since the eruption of terrorism in J&K.
The CEO attributed the success and high voter turnout to certain factors including improved security, law and order environment in last 4 to 5 years, mobilisation by 20 candidates and political parties, election awareness through SVEEP activities and voters’ strong belief that it is the ballot which can lead to sustainable development.
The polling took place in 2338 polling stations across Anantnag parliamentary constituency with live webcasting at all the polling stations. Voting started at 7 am across the parliamentary constituency with long queues of enthusiastic voters waiting to cast their ballots.
Demonstrating the spirit of democracy the voters of Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Rajouri, and Poonch districts showed up in record numbers to cast their votes in a significant show of faith in the election process.
Since the beginning of the poll at 7 am, the voters were seen standing in long queues at many polling stations across all five districts.
Elderly people, women, and youth were seen enthusiastically exercising their right to vote in a peaceful environment. The Chief Electoral Officer and other senior officers of the Election Department monitored the progress of voting in the sixth phase across the parliamentary constituency from the Union Territory-level Command and Control Centre established at ICCC- HMT, Bemina and CEO Office, Srinagar.
The Command and Control Centre has been working 24×7 at Srinagar as well as Jammu since March 16 to ensure free, fair, and inducement-free elections.
After two hours of polling, 8.98 percent voting was recorded in the constituency at 9 am; 23.34 percent at 11 am, 35.61 percent at 1 pm; 44.88 percent at 3 pm while 51.35 percent of polling was recorded by 5 pm.
Assembly segment-wise wise highest poll percentage was observed in Surankote assembly segment with around 68 percent and the lowest in the Kulgam assembly segment with around 32 percent. Budhal and Rajouri assembly segments have also recorded higher poll percentage.
At the time of the culmination of polling, assembly segment-wise tentative voter turnout in the Anantnag PC was 9.70 percent in 2019, 28.80 percent in 2014, 27.10 percent in 2009, 15.04 percent in 2004, 14.32 percent in 1999, 28.15 percent in 1998, 50.02 percent in 1996, and 5.07 in 1989.
The assembly segment-wise polling percentage was recorded at 39.40 percent in Zainpora, 55 percent in D H Pora; 32 percent in Kulgam; 41.50 percent in Devsar; 45.21 percent in Dooru; 50 percent in Kokernag; 34.65 Anantnag West; 31.21 percent in Anantnag; 42.40 percent in Srigufwara Bijbehra; 41.94 percent in Shangus Anantnag East; 55.63 percent in Pahalgam; 65.47 percent in Nowshera; 67.09 percent in Rajouri; 65 percent in Budhal; 65.34 percent in Thanamandi; 63 percent in Surankote; 65 percent in Poonch Haveli; and 65 percent in Mendhar.
The total migrant special polling stations registered around 39 percent of overall polling – 50 percent in Udhampur and 54 percent in 53.
Around 18,36,576 electors had been enrolled to cast their vote in this parliamentary constituency.
More than 9000 polling staff performed poll duty.
The polling continued till 6 pm while at a few polling stations of Poonch- Rajouri and other areas, it continued till the last voter in queue exercised his franchise.
At every polling station, basic minimum facilities of water, electricity, toilet, ramp, verandah and waiting room had been made. The authorities had ensured that wheelchairs and volunteers were provided to the needy as and when required.
All the polling stations were adorned in all colours of festivities.
Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, during his visit to J&K in March, had stressed ensuring huge voter participation of all sections of the society and efforts were made earnestly to make sure the same.
Additionally, to ensure inclusive voting, 17 polling booths managed by women (also called pink polling stations), 15 managed by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and 8 polling stations managed by youth were established.
Also to spread the message about environmental concerns, 15 green polling stations were set up.
To facilitate voter identification, apart from EPIC card, other documents such as Aadhaar Cards, bank passbooks, driving license, PAN card, and government employee ID card were also allowed.
“The democratic spirit has won over any kind of apprehension in the mind of the common Kashmiri voter. Despite the terror incidence of Pahalgam, Shopian, and Surankote-Mendhar in Poonch, the voters were seen coming in large numbers to vote. Anti-national elements failed to deter voters from exercising their constitutional rights. All candidates and parties were able to reach every nook and corner of the constituency during the extended campaigning period from 5th to 23rd May. Meticulous planning and execution of SVEEP activities was done and it ultimately resulted in a significant increase in the voter turnout. SMS blast on mobile through telecom companies, hoarding, flex, nukkad natak, street play, painting competitions, various sports competitions, rallies and related events increased overall voter turnout. The spirit of democracy has triumphed and not even a single incident of stone pelting or any kind of violence has been reported on poll day,” the CEO said.
The enthusiasm among the political parties, who are an important stakeholder in the democratic process could be gauged from the fact that a record number of applications regarding various permissions had been received on the Suvidha portal.
The campaigning in Anantnag PC was violence-free, witnessing historic participation of voters.
There were more than 26,000 Kashmiri migrant electors in the parliamentary constituency who opted for voting at 26 Special Polling Stations established at Jammu (21), Udhampur (01) and Delhi (04).
At these 26 special polling stations, there was a voter turnout of 40 percent at Jammu, around 50 percent at Udhampur and 53 percent at Delhi.
It is the first time that the migrant community has turned to voting in such large numbers.
The CEO thanked all the voters who came in large numbers to cast their votes despite of weather challenges.
He also appreciated the work done by all the polling personnel including security personnel deployed in the election process, Police officers, AROs, ROs, and District Election Officers for their service in making the ongoing elections successful.
When comparing, the ongoing Lok Sabha election voter turnout with earlier voter turnout, especially in the last 35 years, it was the highest. Last highest voter turnout was 49.58 percent in the year 2014.