Anantnag/Kulgam, May 25: In the districts of Anantnag and Kulgam in south Kashmir, voters turned out in large numbers to cast their ballot, driven by pressing concerns over unemployment, inflation, and the desire for development. The high voter turnout reflected a collective demand for effective governance and better opportunities for the future.
At polling stations across the peripheries of Anantnag, voters queued up early, hopeful for a positive change.
Voting at a polling station in the Ashmuqam area of Anantnag, Shakeel Ahmad Rather, 55, expressed his worries about the youth.
“Our youth with M Phil and PhDs are idle for years now,” he said. “We are exercising our right with the hope that they get some sort of employment.”
In Pahalgam, voters acknowledged improvement but also pointed out ongoing challenges.
“There is a marked difference in our everyday lives since the past four years, but the problems are piling up,” a group of voters said. “Electricity bills are touching the skies, and there is mostly power shortage. Pahalgam being a tourist spot is being taken care of, but other areas are suffering.”
In Anantnag town, voters stressed the importance of electing a credible representative.
“We are voting to send a credible voice to Parliament who can represent us,” they said, emphasising their concerns over job security. “We do not care about Article 370. We care about jobs and job securities.”
Many voters shared a sense of urgency and determination to bring about change.
“People are motivated to come out and vote to exercise the one choice we have left,” said a group of voters in the Mattan area of Anantnag.
With a 10-year hiatus since the last assembly election in J&K, there is a prevailing sense of neglect.
“There is no one who will give us a hearing),” the voters said.
In Kulgam, Farooq Ahmad, 35, a resident of Qazigund, voiced his frustration over the rising inflation. “Every day, the prices of essential commodities are going up. It is becoming difficult for a common man to make ends meet. We need a government that can control inflation and provide us some relief,” he said.
At the Mirhama Kulgam polling station, Shaista Begum expressed hopes for her children.
“My two sons have completed doctorates five years ago and are jobless. One is a shopkeeper and the other is a private school teacher. Today I voted with the hope that they get jobs after this election,” she said, praying for long-lasting peace.
Another group of voters at the same polling station echoed these concerns.
“Our children have earned degrees and have no jobs,” they said. “It has been a long time since anyone we know got recruited to a government job.”
Outside a polling station in Nihama, Kulgam, voters spoke about their dedication to voting in every election despite previous calls for boycotts by secessionist groups.
“This election is very important because it is about more than what one person, area, or community needs. It is what we need collectively, and that is statehood and protections like we had under Article 370,” they said.
Zahida Begum, 50, a homemaker in Kulgam, expressed her hopes for a better future.
“I want my children to have better opportunities than we did. We need leaders who can address our issues and provide stable governance,” she said.
The high voter turnout in Anantnag and Kulgam underscores the urgency of the issues at hand and the desire for credible leadership.
Voters are motivated to bring about change, hoping to elect representatives who will address their concerns and provide a brighter future.
“We need someone who will truly represent us in Parliament and work towards solving our problems,” a voter summed up.