The redrawn Srinagar Lok Sabha seat witnessed a voter turnout of 38 per cent without any untoward incidents on Monday during the fourth phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, marking the highest participation since 1996 when the constituency in Jammu and Kashmir recorded nearly 41 per cent polling. This constituency, witnessing its first general election post the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi praise the people of Srinagar for coming out to vote in big numbers.

“The abrogation of Article 370 has allowed the potential and aspirations of the people to find full expression. Happening at the grassroots level, it is excellent for the people of J-K, especially the youth,” PM Modi stated in a post on X.

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Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and political parties praised the people of Srinagar for their “historic” voter turnout. Kashmiri Pandits from the area went to special polling stations in Jammu and voted to help their community get better on “social, economic, and political” fronts, PTI reported.

Voting took place in Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Pulwama districts, and partly in Budgam and Shopian districts at around 2,135 polling stations across the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. The Election Commission said there was live webcasting at all polling stations. At 7 am, polling started with long lines of excited voters queuing up to cast their votes.

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People from Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama, and Shopian turned out in big numbers to vote, showing their faith and enthusiasm in the election process. According to the ECI, the highest voting in this area was in 1996 when nearly 41 per cent of voters voted.

In 2019, only 14.43 per cent of votes were cast, while in previous parliamentary elections, the figures were 25.86 per cent (2014), 25.55 per cent (2009), 18.57 per cent (2004), 11.93 per cent (1999), and 30.06 per cent (1998). Candidates like Aga Ruhullah from the National Conference, Wahid Para from the PDP, Ashraf Mir from JK Apni Party, and Amit Bhat from DPAP are among the 24 candidates contesting for the Srinagar seat. In the 2019 general elections, there were only 12 candidates running for the seat.

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The Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency was changed after delimitation, with parts of Budgam in central Kashmir removed from it, and Pulwama district and parts of Shopian district added.

In a post on X, L-G Sinha 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 free, fair, peaceful and smooth conduct of the polling.”

“I truly appreciate the enthusiasm of electors and hopeful to see historic turnout in the next two phases,” he added.

Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to leave the valley in the early 90s due to fear of militancy, stood in long queues under tight security to cast their votes.

“I have voted for our permanent return to Kashmir valley in an atmosphere of peace and security. We have been waiting for the past 34 years to live in the valley. We hope this dream of ours will materialise now,” said Om Prakash, who was wheeled to the polling station from his quarters in the Jagti migrant camp in Jammu.

National Conference president and former J-K chief minister Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and his two grandsons, Zahir and Zamir, who were voting for the first time, cast their votes at a polling station at the Burn Hall School. The Srinagar seat was redrawn in the 2022 delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir. It comprises 18 assembly segments spread over five districts: Srinagar, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Budgam, and Shopian.