Smart Meters and Power Woes Drive Women to Outvote Men in J&K Elections

Srinagar, Oct 1: The women voters have outnumbered the men in the last phases of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir while a similar situation was recorded in the last and third phase on Tuesday where the female electorates were seen making beelines to cast their ballots.
However, majority of the women voters, The Morning Kashmir Correspondent talked to, have raised the issue of installation of smart meters and also the inadequate electricity in their respective localities, saying this issue has compelled them to vote for the right candidate.

The three-phased assembly elections that began on September 18, 2024 culminated today with the voting in 40 assembly segments taking place on the last day.
From south to north, the women are fed up with the present electricity scenario with most of the women voters claiming that this is the time to get the issue resolved as the local candidate, could help them to come out of the trauma they are facing due to the absence of adequate electricity and the hefty bills they are getting every month.
“Whenever we were promised of adequate electricity, we were tortured by the people at the helm by sending the hefty bills and that too in absence of the adequate electricity. We had no option as the local government was not ruling the people here in J&K,” they said, adding that as the time has come to elect the representatives, the womenfolk who have got affected with the electricity schedule and other related issues, have turned up at the polling booths to avoid any further trauma and ensure the issues are resolved.
In all the three phases, the women voters have echoed almost similar views and wanted this difficult situation to come to an end after the formation of a new and local government in Jammu and Kashmir.