Srinagar Lok Sabha seat records second highest voter turnout of 40 percent after 1989

The Festival of Democracy celebrated in Kashmir amid tight security arrangements

May 13, 2024

Srinagar sees the highest turnout in over 2 decades

In the first major poll battle after the Abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat Monday recorded the second-highest voter turnout of around 40 percent after 1989 amid unprecedented security arrangements.

The entire poll process was completed peacefully with no incident related to poll violence reported from anywhere across 18 Assembly segments falling under the Lok Sabha seat.

Srinagar Lok Sabha seat witnessed a close contest between the National Conference candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Peoples Democratic Party’s youth leader Waheed Para, and Apni Party’s Mohammad Ashraf Mir.

Addressing a media conference in Srinagar Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir P K Pole said, “Over 36.1 percent voter turnout was recorded till 5.00 p.m. and the final tally of votes is most likely to touch or cross 40 percent, the highest ever voter turnout in the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency since 1989″.

He said we are compiling the data from 2135 polling stations and the final tally is expected to touch or cross the 40 percent. Srinagar Parliamentary constituency had recorded the highest ever 40.94 percent polling in 1996. He added that not even a single polling booth witnessed zero percent polling in Srinagar parliamentary constituency.

“People voted in large numbers here. We are thankful to every person involved in making this democratic process a success,” said Pole while addressing media persons in Srinagar.

In 2019, a 14.43 percent voter turnout was recorded, while 2014 witnessed a turnout of 25.86 percent and an almost similar turnout of 25.55 percent in 2009.

Kashmiri migrants recorded an 11 percent voter turnout

According to the Chief Electoral Officer P K Pole, around 11 percent of Kashmir migrant voters, Monday exercised their right to franchise across 26 special polling booths set up in Jammu, Udhampur, and New Delhi. According to Election Commission authorities, a total number of 52,100 migrant voters were enrolled to participate in the polling process for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. Out of these a little over 6000 migrant voters exercised their right to franchise across 26 polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur, and New Delhi. Several among them went home dejected after they failed to figure out their names in the voter’s list at the polling booths.

Voters celebrated the Festival of Democracy

In the absence of any poll boycott call some of the Assembly segments witnessed a healthy voter turnout on Monday.

Of 18 Assembly constituencies falling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, Char-e-Shareef and Kangan Assembly segments recorded over 50 percent voter turnout till 5.00 p.m. Kangan Assembly segment in the Ganderbal district recorded the highest voter turnout of over 56 percent while Char-e-Shareef in Budgam district recorded over 54 percent voter turnout during the day.

In Srinagar district, the Habba Kadal Assembly segment recorded the lowest voter turnout of 13.25 percent while the Khanyar Assembly segment, a stronghold of separatists, recorded 23 percent polling till 5.00 p.m.

Lal Chowk and Hazrat Bal Assembly segments recorded a little over 26 percent polling.

The South Kashmir districts of Shopian and Pulwama recorded over 40 percent polling till 5.00 p.m while the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal recorded around 45 percent polling.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the people and all the stakeholders on the high voter turnout in the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency today.

In a tweet, the Lt Governor said: “Today, people came out in large numbers to cast their votes in Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency and reaffirmed their faith in democracy and the constitution. I commend the hard work by all the stakeholders for the free, fair, peaceful, and smooth conduct of the polling.

It is heartening to see the huge surge in voting percentage in the biggest festival of democracy. I truly appreciate the enthusiasm of the electors and hope to see a historic turnout in the next two phases. I appeal to all to vote without fear and vote with responsibility and pride”.

Today, people came out in large numbers to cast their votes in Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency and reaffirmed their faith in democracy and the constitution. I commend the hard work by all the stakeholders for free, fair, peaceful and smooth conduct of the polling.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) May 13, 2024

Three generations of the Abdullah family on Monday cast their vote in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. It is the first time the grandsons of Dr Farooq Abdullah also voted alongside their father Omar Abdullah.

NC president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and his two grandsons and first-time electors Zahir and Zamir cast their vote at the polling station at the Burn Hall School in Srinagar. “We have two first-time voters with us. It is for the first time that three generations of our family are voting together,” Mr. Omar Abdullah, also a former chief minister, said.

PDP candidate Waheed Rehman Para exercised his vote at the Naira polling booth in Pulwama while APNI party President Altaf Bukhari also stepped out along with his family to exercise his right to vote.

Senior Citizens Celebrating the festival of democracy while #KashmirGoesToPoll.@ceo_UTJK @basharatias_dr @diprjk @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @srinagaradmin @ddnews_jammu @ddnewsSrinagar @PIBSrinagar pic.twitter.com/8svx84bU0v
— Deputy Commissioner Pulwama (@dcpulwama) May 13, 2024

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