Approximately 27,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits are set to cast their votes for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat, with the polls scheduled for May 25.
This seat boasts the highest number of voters among the 18 assembly constituencies in the region, with a total of 1,830,294 eligible voters, comprising 930,379 males, 899,888 females, and 27 third-gender individuals.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)—preparations are in full swing for the final phase of the elections. To accommodate the significant number of displaced voters, 21 polling stations and eight auxiliary centers will be established in Jammu. These include special provisions for voters residing in locations like Jagti. Previously, three auxiliary polling stations were arranged for the Srinagar and Baramulla parliamentary seats, but the large displaced voter population in Anantnag-Rajouri has necessitated additional facilities.
The election officer said that the increase in auxiliary polling stations is to facilitate quicker and more efficient voting for displaced individuals. Many of these voters have opted for postal ballots through the Vote for Home initiative.
The Anantnag-Rajouri seat is a critical battleground, attracting significant attention from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Although the BJP has not officially fielded a candidate for this seat, the party has vigorously supported its stance internally.
BJP’s national general secretary and Jammu and Kashmir affairs in-charge, Tarun Chugh, has been active in Anantnag, highlighting the Modi government’s achievements and denouncing opposition parties like the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Congress as “enemies of democracy.”
State BJP President Ravindra Raina, speaking at a rally in Nowshera, expressed confidence in the party’s performance on Kashmir-centric seats. He clarified that not fielding a candidate in these areas is a strategic move. High-ranking BJP leaders have been campaigning intensively in support of the party’s agenda in Anantnag—(KNO)