In the first phase of the three-phased Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, over 35,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits from across the country will exercise their right to vote. The polling will take place on Wednesday, November 9th, 2023, in 24 Assembly constituencies spread across seven districts, determining the fate of 219 candidates.
A significant portion of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, totaling 34,852 voters, will cast their ballots in Jammu at 19 special polling stations. A smaller number, 648, will vote in Udhampur and Delhi, with one polling station in Udhampur and four in Delhi. Although the majority of the Kashmiri Pandit population resides in Delhi, only around 600 individuals have registered to vote in the elections.
The displaced community will participate in voting in 16 constituencies in the south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam. Six candidates from the Kashmiri Pandit community are contesting in the first phase of elections. These include Sanjay Saraf from Anantnag on the Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJSP) ticket, BJP’s Vir Saraf, Apni Party’s M K Yogi, and independent candidate Dileep Pandita, all from the Shangus-Anantnag seat. Rosy Raina and Arun Raina are contesting as the Republic Party of India and NCP candidates from the Rajpora and Pulwama seats, respectively.
The election authorities have ensured tight security measures and made arrangements for elders, women, and voters with disabilities. 24 polling stations, including 19 in Jammu, one in Udhampur, and four in Delhi, have been designated for Kashmiri migrant voters who choose to vote in person via electronic voting machines (EVMs).
The first phase of the election also sees the participation of prominent figures like Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, contesting from Srigufwara-Bijbehara, AICC general secretary and two-time minister Gulam Ahmed Mir from Dooru, four-time MLA and veteran CPIM leader M Y Tarigami from Kulgam, and former ministers – Congress’ Pirzada Sayeed from Anantnag and NC’s Sakina Itoo from D H Pora. The outcome of these elections will impact the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, with the eyes of the nation watching closely.
