JK assembly polls phase 2: Huge voter turnout recorded in erstwhile terror, stone-pelting hotspots

From the infamous terror hub of Soibug in Budgam district to the stone-pelting epicentre, Nowhatta area of Srinagar, the Kashmir Valley has witnessed a huge surge in voting. Areas like these earlier used to completely boycott elections, with hardly 2-3 per cent of votes being cast,but this assembly election, the ground realities seem to have changed completely in Jammu and Kashmir.

Soibug area in Budgam is where Syed Sallahuddin, the Pakistan-based chief of the United Jihad Council and Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit, is said to have been born. On Wednesday, hundreds of voters turned up at the polling booths, including the ones in Soibug area.

These areas, which were earlier dominated by terrorists and separatist ideologies, have witnessed a major shift from election boycott to casting of ballot.

National Conference leader and former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, is among the 22 candidates in fray from Budgam district.

''We are thankful for these elections, as a lot of them have proven that they were betraying us, by announcing in mosques and Jamia Masjids to stay away from polls. They ruined our children and now suddenly they have started believing in the elections, they are even fighting. Some said that their parents are in jails, and they are fighting for their release, but now they are fighting again in assembly elections betraying our trust," saidAbdul Gani Malik, a local.

Srinagar City has witnessed low turnouts in all the polls in the last four decades. The downtown areas, like the Jama Masjid of Nowhatta were known as stone-pelting epicentres with a boycott call every Friday. But in sharp contrast, long queues of people were seen at major polling booths in the cityon Wednesday, markinga significant surprisingshift from the previous times.

''We are out to vote as we want our own minister and MLA. What happened in 2019, like 370 was revoked, that is why we have come out in huge numbers. There used to be boycotts here but people have realised that we want our representative. People now know how important it is. Jammu and Kashmir is being run by LG for so long, that's why we are out to vote. This is a place where everyone was scared to vote. If someone would have voted, he would live in fear afterwards, but now everyone has realised the importance,"said Tariq Ahmad, a local.

The Ministry of External Affairs also brought a high-level delegation of senior diplomats from multiple countries,includingthe USA, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, and Philippines,to witness the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir. Thedelegationwitnessed polling in Budgam and Srinagar in the Valley.

''We are interested in India's process of ensuring that peace and stability are the norm here in Jammu and Kashmir. If all goes well, statehood is possible. We were invited by MEA and we are delighted to see the process," said a diplomat.

In the second phase of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, over 25.78 lakh voters sealed the fate of 239 candidates in fray for 26 assembly constituencies. The second phase of the Legislative Assembly covered 26 Assembly Constituencies across six districts of Jammu & Kashmir, including Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam in Kashmir Division, and Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu Division.

The second phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saw some of the most prominent faces, includingthe former CM Omar Abdullah, APNI Party Chief Altaf Bukhari, Congress state president Tariq Hameed Karra, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi of the PDP, and BJP state president Ravindra Raina in fray.