Asma Bhat
Though Srinagar witnessed a low turnout of nearly 38 per cent for the Lok Sabha elections, the capital city was abuzz with anticipation and civic engagement.
Amidst this fervor, I am sharing a captivating photo story documenting the essence of democracy on the day of elections in Srinagar.
From the bustling streets to the busy polling stations, my lens will focus on the diverse of voters from all walks of life.
One notable stop of the journey through my lens in Srinagar was the Fakeer Gujri area, situated 25 kilometers away from the city center.
Here, amidst the picturesque landscape, voters turned out in significant numbers to cast their ballots. Elderly citizens, first-time voters, young enthusiasts, and others flocked to the polling booths, eager to participate in shaping the future of their nation.
The scene in the Fakeer Gujri area exemplified the democratic spirit that permeates every corner of Srinagar during the election season.
Despite challenges and uncertainties, the residents exhibited unwavering determination to exercise their democratic rights and make their voices heard.
After several decades, Srinagar saw voting with such fervor, as no boycott call was issued this time by separatist leaders of Kashmir, and on the other hand, the religious leader and once a member of separatist leaders, Mirwaiz Kashmir, Moulana Mohammad Umer Farooq advised the people to cast their votes.
Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir, also voted for the first time since Modi’s 2019 decision to remove the region’s semi-autonomy.
Manzoor Ahmed, 38, a Fakeer Gujri resident, said, “I voted because we just want to get relief from what we are facing here. Our locality is full of laborers, but the present government did not do anything for the labourers. We get work once a week. We have been left to the mercy of nobody.”
“From the last few years, we are being charged hiked prices for our own resources like electricity and water. The rising unemployment is driving young people to migrate states, draining it of its talent,” said Manzoor, adding, “We want development. This time, we want a change in the government. My vote is for someone who is educated and can develop our area. The lack of teachers in our schools is a concerning issue. Our health centers have deteriorated.”
Another resident of Fakeer Gujri, Mohammad Ismail, 58, said, “Lok Sabha elections are very necessary because we have a lot of issues in our society. We feel suffocated and depressed; our educated children are jobless.”
“People had no option to get rid of the suffocating atmosphere in the Valley for the past 5 years. We are opting for the lesser evil to choose our local representatives. The vote is not for ‘bijli, sadak, and pani’ but against the constitutional changes and the ongoing repression in Kashmir,” said Mohammad Ismail.
At a polling booth in Khanyaar, Yawer, a first-time voter, voted in the Marriage Hall. “I voted for change today and for freedom to talk and express. Life was easier when our local representative governed us,” Yawer told The Kashmiriyat.
The National Conference and People’s Democratic Party are the two major competitors in the constituency. Influential Shia leader and former minister Aga Ruhullah Mehdi is the National Conference’s candidate on the seat. while, the PDP has fielded its youth president Waheed Para.
One day ahead of the elections, People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference both alleged that their party workers were harassed and illegally detained, while the officials denied these claims.