Opinion | From Pelting to Polling: A New Era of Voting In Naya Kashmir

From once-neglected polls to bustling polling booths, Kashmir’s journey reflects a promising evolution towards democratic fervour in Naya Kashmir.
Since the announcement of the dates for the General Lok Sabha Elections in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a noticeable shift in the atmosphere, particularly given that this is the first major election following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in 2019, discounting the District Development Council (DDC) elections. Previously, these Lok Sabha elections were often overlooked, with many residents not even aware of their parliamentary representatives. However, the dynamics have changed significantly since 2019, and this election cycle is being closely watched. So far, polling has taken place in the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency on May 13, with upcoming dates for the Baramulla constituency on May 20 and the Anantnag constituency, initially scheduled for May 7 but now deferred by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to May 25. This election holds tremendous significance for Jammu and Kashmir, representing a pivotal moment in the “Naya Kashmir” era. In this article, I will share firsthand accounts and stories from the polling stations of the Srinagar PC, where I visited multiple booths myself.
The Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency previously encompassed eight Assembly constituencies from Srinagar, four from Budgam, and two from Ganderbal. However, due to the recent delimitation order in Jammu and Kashmir, it has expanded to include an additional four constituencies from Pulwama and one from Shopian, totalling 19 Assembly Constituencies across five districts. Dr. Bilal Mohi-u-Din Bhat, the Returning Officer for Srinagar PC, oversaw a total of 39 nominations. Among these, 24 nominations were accepted, 10 were rejected, and 5 candidates withdrew their nominations. Notably, the key contenders represented three prominent parties: the Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP). The JKNC fielded Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, a seasoned politician who has won legislative assembly elections three times from the Budgam constituency. The PDP selected Waheed Ur Rehman Parra from Pulwama, despite his criminal record, among other candidates. The JKAP put forward Mohammad Ashraf Mir, a former cabinet minister and MLA, as their candidate. The campaign leading up to the elections was primarily contested among these three candidates, each vying to secure the support of the electorate.

Anticipation filled me as I awaited May 13, the day of polling for the Srinagar PC. I ventured to select areas of the city, once notorious for stone-pelting before 2019. My first stop was a polling booth in Shalteng, falling under the Central Shalteng Assembly constituency. What I witnessed left me astonished—youth eagerly casting their votes, people patiently queuing up to support their favored candidates, it was like a dream fulfilled. Notably, this was the same Shalteng where, in 2013, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) attempted to seal illegal shops under the supervision of Chief Enforcement Officer Hakeem Aijaz, only to face fierce stone-pelting from locals, including women. The operation had to be halted multiple times that day to maintain law and order. In stark contrast, on this day, Shalteng’s youth, men, and women came out in droves to participate in this celebration of democracy. As I aimed to capture the moment in a photograph, I found people eagerly posing, proudly displaying the ink marks on their fingers, a testament to their active participation in the electoral process.

For my next stop, I chose a polling booth in Barthana, a neighbourhood within Qamarwari falling under the Batamaloo Assembly Constituency, again a place that was a hotbed for stone-pelting before 2019. Upon arrival, I asked several locals for directions to the polling booth. My senior journalist friend accompanying me remarked, “YE AUS KHAAB BRUN’H ZI BARTHUN HEKHAAV WENETH KEHIN ELECTIONS MUTALIQ” (It was once a dream to even mention something about elections in Barthana). Inside, I witnessed spirited discussions among the youth about their preferred candidates and the reasons behind their choices. Remarkably, even young men were serving as polling agents for various political parties. Barthana tragically lost Ali Muhammad Dagga, a driver, in 2017 when his minibus was struck by a stone thrown by protestors at Tengpora Bypass, causing a fatal collision with an electric pole. Today, the residents of Barthana exhibit fervour and enthusiasm to cast their votes, bidding farewell to the culture of strikes and boycotts. This shift in mindset among the youth post-2019 reflects a desire to actively engage in all aspects of democracy.
The third and final polling booth I visited was located in Lawaypora, once a hotspot of unrest during turbulent times in Kashmir. As I entered, I was moved to see a group of young boys engaged in a discussion about the significance of voting, a moment that touched my heart and prompted me to request a photograph, which they gladly agreed to. Inside the polling station, I witnessed long queues of men and women patiently waiting for their turn to cast their votes. However, the most heartwarming scene I encountered was an elderly man, approximately 90 years old, supported by his grandchildren as they guided him to vote. Lawaypora has a poignant history, it was here that police resorted to aerial firing to disperse protestors in 2016, leading to a blockage of the Baramulla-Srinagar highway for four hours. Today, Lawaypora stands witness to polling instead of pelting, symbolizing a positive shift in the area’s dynamics.
In conclusion, the transformation in Kashmir’s youth mindset reflects a remarkable shift towards active engagement in democratic processes. The recent Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency election witnessed an impressive turnout of nearly forty percent, a stark increase from the mere 13% seen in 2019. This surge in voter participation signifies a palpable change taking place across the region post-2019. What was once a disregarded aspect, the Lok Sabha elections are now becoming a topic of discussion at dining tables, shops, and public spaces throughout Kashmir. This evolution is a testament to the ongoing progress of Naya Kashmir, with its future resting securely in the hands PM Modi.
The Writer is a student activist and can be reached at soulofkashmir1@gmail.com