North Kashmir voters throng polling booths, shrug off fear of boycott calls

Srinagar, May 20: Driven by the desire to give vent to their feelings on the sweeping changes in the region over the past five years, voters in Pattan of north Kashmir’s Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency turned up in large numbers to exercise their democratic franchise on Monday. The brisk polling marked a departure from the past three decades when fear and separatist-sponsored boycott calls had kept many voters away from polling booths.
Voters cited the decline in terror activities and the absence of any boycott calls from separatist groups like the Hurriyat Conference as reasons for the enthusiastic turnout. The Hurriyat had long claimed elections were a ploy to mislead the world on the Kashmir issue.

” This time it is a free election, there is no fear on us not to exercise our franchise,” exclaimed Mubashir Ahmad, a first-time voter in Pattan.   
In Soibugh, the hometown of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, witnessed serpentine queues outside polling stations as the improved security situation and fading grip of boycott politics encouraged people to come out and vote. This was the first major electoral exercise in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

“The situation has improved and fear faded, which is a good omen for democracy. People mostly did not vote earlier due to threats, but this time brisk voting is happening without any interference,” said Basit Ayoub, a local resident after casting his vote.
However, Ayoub stressed people voted to elect a representative who could voice their problems. “We have come to vote for the redress of our problems and select a candidate who can represent our voice in Parliament,” he said.
Unemployment and inflated power bills emerged as key concerns for voters like Mansoor Parray. “We are getting electricity bills more than our consumption. With no elected government for over five years, we are unable to raise these issues,” he rued.
Ajaz Bashir felt people were “under pressure” after 2019 and wanted to give vent to their feelings through the polls. “There is no democracy here after the governor’s rule was imposed. We used to raise problems with our representatives, but now nobody listens,” he said, pitching for early assembly polls.
With roads, water, electricity and development dominating the issues, many hoped the large turnout would break past polling records in the constituency. Till 3 pm, over 45% of voters had already exercised their franchise – the highest in nearly four decades.