Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina cast his vote on Saturday in Rajouri, expressing enthusiasm for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory. Raina described the electoral process as a celebration of Indian democracy, emphasizing the vibrant atmosphere throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
Raina highlighted significant voter turnouts in key parliamentary constituencies, citing 40 per cent in Srinagar and 60 per cent in Baramulla. He noted a similar enthusiastic response in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat, particularly lauding the participation of voters despite the area’s proximity to the Line of Control (LOC).
The ongoing election sees a high-stake contest between People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference (NC) candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad, and Apni Party’s Zafar Iqbal Manhas. Raina’s observations come against the backdrop of the Election Commission’s decision to reschedule the polling date for the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency from May 7 to May 25 due to logistical and connectivity issues.
Interestingly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has refrained from announcing candidates for the three seats in Kashmir, including Anantnag-Rajouri. The upcoming polls mark the first general elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Moreover, the ongoing election signifies the first contest in Anantnag-Rajouri following the delimitation exercise in 2022, which integrated the regions of Poonch and Rajouri into a single constituency. Notably, the fifth phase recorded a substantial voter turnout of 55.79 per cent in the Baramulla parliamentary constituency, marking the highest in 35 years.
The surge in voter participation underscores the significance of the electoral process in shaping the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.