India Culture, Business, Sports and Food. Get all the buzz in India now

Heavy Turnout The first phase of elections for the assembly of the state of Jammu and Kashmir has astonished everyone. Prior to the elections it was being said that polling percentage will be vary low in Kashmir in wake of KCC’s call for election boycott. But people of the region came out overwhelmingly to vote despite snow and chill and thus have blown all kind of ‘negative speculations’ into the air. It was being said this election is not the political battle between PDP, NC and Congress but a battle between the election boycotters and the democratic forces. According to Chief electoral officer B R Sharma, “The polling has been by and large peaceful,” and 64 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first phase for the 10 assembly constituencies on Monday, November 17. On Monday Sharma had revealed a tentative turnout of 55 percent and had later on revised the voting percentage. Incidents of rigging, scuffle between rival candidates and their agents and breaking of electronic machines were reported at some places but such kind of incidents are identical with elections. Separatist leaders had called to people to march to those places where elections are being held. But police had put all the separatist leaders under house arrest in wake of their anti-election campaign.

Poll Percentage According to the revised reports, 63.75 per cent turnout was recoded in the first phase of the elections. Gurez, Sonawari and Bandipora witnessed 75%, 47% and 58% turnout as compared to 76%, 31% and 56% turnout of 2002 assembly elections. Though people of these areas had took part in KCC led agitations but the polling percent shows that they want to address their grievances through democratic process. Security forces had made elaborate arrangements to prevent people from protesting against elections. At some places people raised anti-India slogans and tried to prevent people from casting their votes but they were shown the ‘iron fist’. The polling percentage witnessed in other constituencies is: Zanskar 60%, Kargil 60%, Leh 60%, Nobra 66%, Mendhar 73%, Poonch Haveli 73% and Surankot 68%. In the morning low turnout was reported because of weather conditions but as the day became warmer people had assembled in long queue to cast their votes. All major political parties of the state were not enthusiastic about the elections but ‘respectable’ turnout has provided them fresh ‘air’. Earlier both the regional political parties of the state PDP and NC were reluctant to elections at this juncture when the state was passing through one of its ‘worst phases’ but had at ‘last time’ agreed to participate in the elections to defeat the separatists.

Frustration The ‘heavy’ turnout has indicated that people want to the address their daily grievances through their elected representatives. It has become clear that people have voted for democracy and development not for separate state. Violent agitations and heavy turnout in elections are two separate things. People have switched sides from separatists to the democratic forces. This is a sign of public frustration with the government and security forces. There is no doubt that people are very much frustrated because of lack of employment education and other basic facilities. At the same time they are also frustrated with the security forces. It must be learnt that the state has witnessed Pakistan-supported terrorism for decades. Because of it security forces were deployed in the state. Before ceasefire on LoC between India and Pakistan, incident of militancy were a part of routine in the state. The side effect of the heavy deployment of security forces was it that people had to face harassment in the hands of the security forces. Amarnath land row issue had provided an outlet to these years of public frustration. Hurriyat and some other anti-India outfits had termed this frustration as a freedom movement. It must be learnt that Hurriyat never has fought elections but project itself as the ‘hole and sole’ representative’ of the people of Kashmir.

Hurriyat It is the Kashmiri leaders who have totally failed to address the local issues. They have always exploited the emotions of public to score points over their rivals. Amarnath land issues was turned from a non-issue to an issue by a regional party but later on it failed to control it and the reins were taken over by Hurriyat. For some years Hurriyat had been lying sidelined. Confidence building measures between India and Pakistan had showed positive signs. People were very much enthusiastic about the dialog process. In such kind of situation Hurriyat needed an issue that could mark its revival and alliance government of PDP and Congress had provided it the issues. The success of the first phase of assembly election is the sign of returning normalcy in the state.