Kashmiri Electorate Ignores Boycott Call

Though not totally unexpected, it was surely surprising that the Kashmiri voters who had been instigated by the separatist groups and Pakistani propaganda, not to participate in the election process, turned out in record numbers to elect their representatives for the State Assembly.

The voters in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Kashmir Valley rejected the boycott call given by various separatist groups by turning out in large numbers to exercise their franchise in the first and second phases of polling on 17th and 23rd of November 2008. In the first phase, the overall polling in the entire state exceeded 69 percent. The three constituencies of Kashmir valley namely, Bandipora, Sonawari and Gurez however recorded about 58 percent of polling. The turn out in Gurez constituency, which is right on the line of control, was more than 74 percent. Bandipora witnessed 67 percent and Sonawari 46 percent as per provisional figures.

In Jammu division, Poonch recorded the highest 73.23 followed by Mendhar, which recorded 73.05 and Surankote witnessed 68.01. In Ladakh division, the poll percentage in all the four constituencies of Leh, Nobra, Kargil and Zanskar was more than 60.

The heavy turn out disproved that the people of the state had distanced themselves from the democratic process and the agitation led by the Coordination Committee of separatist groups had weaned away people from the mainstream. The voters not only disregarded the anti election propaganda of separatist groups and Pakistani Electronic Media, they also braved inclement weather and voted to elect their representatives boldly. The voting pattern also indicates that people are greatly concerned with developmental issues as almost all the candidates in the first two phases, had focused on the harmonious development and generation of employment for the youth. Good governance and peace too were the main issues in the manifestos of the candidates.

Barring a few minor incidents, the polling in the first two phases concluded peacefully and even in the untoward incidents, there was no loss of life or property.

An important point to note is that people do have grievances against the state and the central government. There is also an element of alienation which needs to be addressed but a very positive and encouraging development is the growing faith of the masses in the Election Commission of the country. They have also realized that only those candidates who receive the people’s mandate will enter the assembly halls and that there is no chance for rigging and manipulating.

In the second phase of polling which took place in Kashmir Valley on 23rd of November, Kashmiris demonstrated that high turn out in the first phase (November 17) was not by chance. People continued to defy the boycott call and turned out in large numbers despite severe cold and veiled threats by militants and separatist groups.

The voters in the sensitive constituencies of Ganderbal and Kangan demolished all the political calculations in the wake of series of grenade attacks and blasts. Sunday morning saw long cues of voters including women and elderly people outside polling booths in Ganderbal and Kangan participating with great enthusiasm, despite some feeble anti-election demonstrations. As per tentative figures issued by the election authorities and not contested by independent sources, Ganderbal constituency recorded 44.33 per cent polling while Kangan turn out crossed 60 per cent. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Mr. Masud Samoon while giving out figures said that the final figures may be better.

Meanwhile, the polling percentage in the four constituencies of Rajouri district in Jammu region crossed 70 per cent. Rajouri constituency recorded 70, Nowshera 73, Darhal 75 and Kalakote 73.

The poll percentage in both the phases should serve as an eye opener to the separatist leadership who tried to make people believe that they are not only most popular in the state but are real representatives without ever participating in the elections. Their claim that they have a representative character has been openly belied. Polling pattern in the first two phases of the elections in Kashmir has made it clear beyond any doubt that the people may have some reservations and grievances against the central government and there may also be an element of alienation, but they have deep faith in the Indian democratic set up and the Election Commission of the country. Through the years the vast majority of people have realized that only those candidates who receive the people’s mandate will enter the Assembly Hall and that there is no chance of rigging and manipulation. This is important in the context of Kashmir, where rigging had been a consistent and pointed complaint of the voters since 1957.

Since the 2002 elections have been very clean and transparent, the faith of the people in the democratic process of elections has once again been strengthened. It is this strong faith which explains the heavy turn out of the Kashmiri electorate and their total rejection of the boycott call.

*Deputy Director, PIB, Srinagar

RTS/VN