Danishwar Hameed
In Bugam, Kulgam, where polling stations were once locked in 2019, residents are now turning out in small groups to participate in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Amid clashes and a low voter turnout in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district in 2019, seven areas, with a total electorate of 10,151 voters, witnessed zero percent polling. These areas included Wanpora, Shamsipora, Turk Tachloo, Khudwani, and Bugam.
Kulgam, home to several militant commanders, is part of the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, where former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Mian Altaf are among the 20 candidates in the fray.
Voters in Kashmir valley see this as a first opportunity to express their feelings after the special status of Jammu Kashmir was revoked.
“Fear has diminished, which is a positive sign. In the past, many people refrained from voting due to threats to their safety, but this time, people are voting enthusiastically without any external interference,” said Ghulam Ahmed, a local villager.
Ahmed said, “There are many issues here. The rice allotment has been reduced. Kerosene supply has been cut. It is high time for us to come out and fight against all that we have been facing under the present regime.”
Shabir, a youth in his 20’s said, “Unemployment is one of the biggest concerns in the Kashmir valley. We want jobs. We are getting fat electricity bills and there is nobody to go to for having our issued addressed.”
In 2014, among the 4,521 eligible voters, only a single vote was cast at six polling stations in Bugam and Pooniwah in the Kulgam Assembly segment and in 2019, zero votes were cast in Bugam. This year nearly one thousand votes were cast out of over 3000 votes.
“In one polling station, a total of 585 votes were polled out of 2600, while in another booth installed in the Bugam area,260 votes were polled out of 550,” an official told The Kashmiriyat.
One of those villages that witnessed a total boycott of the polls was Shamsipora which out of a total of 1578 voters, zero 742 votes.
Similarly, zero votes were polled in Wanpora out of a total of 1606 voters, however, today, voting during the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections, 496 persons cast their votes. Out of a total of 967 voters, 175 votes were cast in Turk Tachloo. In 2019, zero votes were polled here.
Khudwani, the epicenter of the 2016 agitation, saw a zero per cent voting in 2019, out of the total of 2562 voters in four polling booths. In 2024, 657 voters have exercised their franchise.
Meanwhile, the total voting percentage in the district stood at 34. 27 per cent.