In the sixth phase of the General Election in Jammu and Kashmir, the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency recorded an impressive voter turnout of 53% till 5 p.m. This turnout marks the second-highest percentage ever recorded in the history of J&K. However, the election process was overshadowed by protests and allegations of “tactical rigging” by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti.
Mufti alleged that hundreds of her polling agents and workers were detained to suppress voter turnout. She expressed concerns about the fairness of the election and claimed that the role played by Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha and Deputy Inspector General of Police Altaf Khan had been negative, staining the process of free and fair elections initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The Anantnag Parliamentary constituency comprises 18 Assembly segments, with 11 located south of the Kashmir valley and seven in the Pir Panjal valley’s Rajouri and Poonch districts. The Pir Panjal districts are predominantly inhabited by tribal populations, including Gujjars, Paharis, and Bakerwals.
Mufti’s hometown district of Anantnag recorded a relatively lower voter turnout of 31.21% in the Anantnag Assembly segment and 34.65% in the Anantnag West Assembly segment. Kulgam, known for its militant presence, witnessed a turnout of only 31.99%.
Despite the allegations of rigging, the J&K Police refuted Mufti’s claims, stating that only a few individuals with a tainted past were detained for preventive measures to ensure a safe and peaceful election.
Amid the face-off between Mufti and the J&K Police, voters in other areas of the constituency remained enthusiastic. Showkat Ahmad, a resident of Ganeshpora, voted despite the arrest of his two brothers after a militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam. He expressed his desire to see an end to the practice of arbitrary arrests of youth.
Several members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami also exercised their franchise. Mushtaq Ahmed Reshi, the father of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Junaid Reshi, and senior separatist Mukhtar Waza were among those who voted. Voters emphasized issues such as the special status of J&K, unemployment, and electricity supply as key concerns.
In contrast to Anantnag, the Assembly segments of Rajouri and Poonch witnessed a record polling of above 65%. Gujjar and Pahari voters in these areas were divided in their support, influenced by the government’s grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
BJP State president Ravinder Raina expressed confidence that the voter turnout was a testament to democracy and that people would vote in the interest of the nation. The BJP is supporting J&K Apni Party candidate Zaffar Manhas in an attempt to keep the National Conference and the PDP at bay.
