Kashmir braces for ‘Record’ voter turnout

87 lakh set to vote in high-stakes polls in J&K 

Srinagar, Mar 22: Authorities are expecting a ‘record-breaking’ voter turnout in Kashmir as 86.93 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in J&K.

According to official figures, there are 86.93 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir, of which approximately 42 lakh are women.
Authorities expect a ‘record’ voter turnout in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, said people should come out and vote in large numbers. “We are making adequate arrangements and expect a record voter turnout,” he said.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 72,021,163 people were eligible to vote in Jammu and Kashmir, of which 35,308,883 cast their votes, resulting in a polling percentage of 49.3%.
During the 2014 Parliamentary polls, the polling percentage in J&K was 49.72%.
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified their campaign for the upcoming Parliamentary elections, with the restoration of statehood, abrogation of Article 370, empowerment of marginalized populations, and the end of separatism and dynasty politics as their main poll agenda.
J&K has five parliamentary constituencies, of which three fall in the Kashmir valley and two in Jammu. At present, three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir are held by the National Conference: Farooq Abdullah from Central Kashmir, Justice Hasnian Masoodi from South Kashmir, and Mohammad Akbar Lone from North Kashmir. The BJP holds two parliament members from Jammu, including Dr Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore.
In Kashmir, the main contest is expected between NC, PDP, PC and Apni Party. While for two seats in Jammu, the main contest will be between the BJP and Congress. The BJP has announced Dr Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore as their candidates for the Udhampur and Jammu Lok Sabha constituencies.
For the three seats in Kashmir, the BJP is yet to finalize names. “We will announce candidates very soon from Kashmir,” said J&K’s BJP chief Ravinder Raina.
The central leadership of the BJP is actively engaging with local party leaders to assess the party’s chances in the upcoming elections. Meetings are being conducted with party workers, and a strategic decision has been made to connect with communities such as Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis, SCs, residents along the border and LoC, Pakistan Occupied J&K (POJK) displaced individuals, West Pak refugees, Kashmiri Pandits, and backward classes. These constitute around 30 percent of J&K’s vote electorate.