General Elections 2024: Why Kashmir voted in high numbers?

Srinagar: After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and the delimitation exercise conducted successfully, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed historically high voter turnout in the Parliamentary elections 2024, the biggest electoral exercise in the region after a gap of five years. In almost all instances the smiling voters greeted the security forces, a sign that had been missing during the peak of militancy-held elections.

As a matter of fact, since the onset of militancy and turmoil, this was record-breaking turnout in Parliamentary elections. The single-digit figure of voter turnout seen in many elections was transformed to double digits in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Election Commission of India too acknowledged the ground-shaking reality.

The election campaign from all the parties was highly electrifying.  The decision of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) not to field any candidate from Kashmir Valley surprised many.

The voter turnout in the three constituencies in the Kashmir Valley — Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri — was 38.49%, 59.1% and 54.84%, respectively, which, as per the EC, was the highest in the last three decades. The other two constituencies, Udhampur and Jammu, recorded 68.27% and 72.22%, respectively.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir comprises 5 Parliament Constituencies (PCs) namely Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag Rajouri, Udhampur and Jammu. The combined VTR for the 5 PCs in the past few elections is given below:

This high voter turnout was made possible via myriad factors on the ground. The analytic pulse is that anger in sections, especially in Kashmir Valley against the abrogation of Article 370, stone pelting and terrorism, curbed to a large extent by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. Some voters were also appreciative of an end to stone pelting and less violence over the years and hailed peace dividends over the years. A young political analyst, while pleading anonymity opined that the BJP had ensured an end to stone pelting and terrorism which is good news for many especially the youth of Kashmir and all this translated into free and fair voting by one and all irrespective of ideologies.

The three Parliament Constituencies (PCs) in the valley namely Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri recorded a voter turnout of 38.49%, 59.1% and 54.84% respectively, which has been the highest in the last 3 decades.

Unemployment, hiked electricity tariff and increase in tourism were the other reasons that people voted in high numbers. The record-breaking tourism activity in the region post-abrogation was widely applauded especially by those associated with the tourism sector.

Many voters would opine that Article 370 abrogation was heavy on their minds, especially in downtown Srinagar, Pattan, Anantnag and many other places. For many women voters, unemployment and hiked electricity bills were major issues hitting hard.

At Merbehari in Srinagar, an urban Ghetto surrounded by Dal Lake, the mood seemed to favour voting with enthusiasm and expressing anger on abrogation through vote. A voter Muhammad Amin opined that justice is the biggest issue while voting and also the path of development in holistic areas.

In entire areas of North Kashmir to South Kashmir and Central Kashmir, men, women, young and old all were in unison agreeing and gossiping that the voting is going like a festival and they are carrying the right to franchise without any fear in their hearts. In Kheribal located in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag, a traditional People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stronghold, youth voters were worried about fewer job opportunities but applauded the peace dividends.

“Without a peaceful atmosphere, such unprecedented voter turnout was not possible and credit should go to the Narendra Modi Government,” observed the analyst.

Former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, however, said recently that the high voter turnout in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir was due to the courage the people showed to express themselves through their votes. Abdullah, who is a candidate for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, did not agree with the claims made by the BJP top brass that the record turnout was due to the abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre in 2019.

Many are saying that both NC and PDP are in the dock as during their tenures in Government right from 1996, they failed to ensure high voter turnout, while this time it has happened.

After three decades no separatist outfit was able to give any boycott call on the eve of elections,  a big morale booster for the Government. For the first time in the last 37 years, the members and leaders of banned under the anti-terror law in 2019, the influential pro-Pakistan outfit Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir’s (JIJK) cast their votes in impressive numbers throughout Kashmir.

During the elections in Kashmir,  the cadre of the National Conference was seen as highly active and many feel that the party might win all seats from Kashmir valley again. However, more than winners on June 4, 2024,  in Jammu and Kashmir, the real headlines have been grabbed by historic turnout.

*Senior journalist