April 28
Kulgam- another volatile district of the Kashmir valley, located down South of Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar will be going to polls on Monday (29 April) with over 3.45 lakh electors.
The Kulgam district- a part of Anantnag Lok Sabha seat is going to polls in the second leg of three-phased schedule for this Parliamentary Constituency on April 29.
The district spread over four assembly segments comprising Noorabad, Kulgam, Hom Shalibugh and Devsar is expecting a low to moderate turnout, with voter percentage expected to stay comparatively up in Devsar belt.
The South Kashmir district has 345,486 electors including 179,607 males, 164,604 females, 1262 service electors (1254 male and 08 female) and 13 transgender voters. For smooth polling, the ECI has set up 433 polling stations across the district.
A total of 18 candidates are in fray, however the mood on ground suggests the fight will be between three major contestants, Hasnain Masoodi of Jammu Kashmir National Conference, Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Indian National Congress, Mehbooba Mufti of Jammu Kashmir People’s Democratic Party.
Kulgam Assembly segment has the highest number of 98,298 voters (51,051 males, 46,818 females, 455 service voters and 4 transgender voters) while as Noorabad has the lowest 77,171 electors, including 40,093 males, 36,886 females, 188 service voters and 4 transgender voters.
The Devsar Assembly segment has 91288 voters (47467 males, 43324 females, 492 service voters and five transgender voters), and HS Bugh segment has 78669 voters (40996 males, 37576 females and 127 service voters).
Islamabad (anantnag) district of Anantnag LS Seat went to polls in the third phase on April 23 with the polling percentage touching 13.6 percent.
The Kulgam district of South Kashmir has been one of the most watched districts of the Kashmir valley by Security agencies, belts like Quimoh, Redwani, Budgam, Damhal Hanjipora with active Militants have been the most volatile since 2017.
Damhal Hanjipora that witnessed 74 percent polling in 2014 and wore a festive look during those polls is a native to 7 Militants now, some of them slain.
Similarly Quimoh belt has been native of more than thirty Militants including prominent commanders, most number of public rallies that attracted millions of people during 2016 civilian uprising were held here.
In Bugam, posters of Militants have appeared calling for a boycott of elections.
This Anantnag parliamentary constituency is spreading over four districts comprising Islamabad (Anantnag), Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama.
The voting timing has been fixed from 7 am to 4 pm in the district.