Farooq Abdullah, a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, said that party members had been imprisoned for the previous two days and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about the alleged normalcy in the Union Territory.
The first election to be held in the Union Territory since Article 370 was repealed is now taking place for the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency. The J&K National Conference President told reporters, “It is unfortunate that they claim there is no violence and everything is proceeding smoothly, yet our party workers have been confined for two days,” after casting his ballot with party Vice-President Omar Abdullah. On the one hand, they claim that elections are held in a free and fair manner.”
“I want to inquire of the Union Home Minister and PM Modi: Why have our workers been detained? Are they apprehensive of losing? They will indeed lose…,” he further remarked. Responding to queries about polling agents facing harassment, Omar Abdullah informed ANI, “We have even furnished their names. While others have merely mentioned that their workers are being intimidated, we have identified eight of our workers. This constitutes an effort from the administration to disrupt the electoral process, which is condemnable…”
“We have awaited this day for a considerable duration. We anticipated that alongside parliamentary elections, Assembly elections would also transpire. I implore the people of Srinagar, Budgam, Shopian to come out and exercise their franchise…,” Omar appended.
Neither the Congress nor the BJP have nominated candidates for the seat. Jammu and Kashmir has been under central rule since the collapse of the PDP-BJP government in June 2018, with the last assembly polls conducted in 2014. Voting in Jammu and Kashmir is taking place in five phases. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured three seats, while the National Conference obtained the remaining three. Despite being allies in the opposition alliance INDIA bloc, the PDP and NC have decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently in Jammu and Kashmir.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are scheduled across seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes and announcement of results slated for June 4.
