JAMMU, Sept 17: More than 35,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits across India are set to participate in the upcoming first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, with polling scheduled for Wednesday. These voters, who were forced to leave their homeland due to the conflict, will cast their ballots at 24 special polling stations, including 19 in Jammu, 1 in Udhampur, and 4 in Delhi.
The elections, divided into three phases, will begin in 24 constituencies across seven districts, including south Kashmir’s Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam. These constituencies will play a key role in determining the fate of 219 candidates running for office. The Kashmiri Pandit community, which has been displaced for decades, will cast their votes in 16 of these constituencies, marking a significant moment for their involvement in the democratic process despite being scattered across various parts of the country.
Dr. Arvind Karwani, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner overseeing the election process, confirmed that 35,500 eligible migrant voters have registered for the first phase of the elections. Of these, 34,852 are registered in Jammu, with the remaining 648 voters spread across Udhampur and Delhi. While many Kashmiri Pandits have settled in Delhi, a small number of around 600 have registered to vote in this election.
Authorities have ensured that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth and transparent election. Special provisions have been made for the elderly, women, and voters with disabilities. Tight security measures have also been implemented to maintain order at all polling stations. Polling materials, including electronic voting machines (EVMs), have already been distributed to election personnel from Women’s College in Jammu, and these teams are now being deployed to their respective stations.
Additionally, six candidates from the Kashmiri Pandit community are running in the first phase. These include Sanjay Saraf, contesting from Anantnag for the Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJSP), Vir Saraf from the BJP, and Apni Party’s M.K. Yogi. Independent candidate Dileep Pandita, Republic Party of India’s Rosy Raina, and NCP’s Arun Raina are also in the fray, representing the interests of the displaced Pandit community.
This election will see 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh youths, casting their votes. Among the prominent political figures running are Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Gulam Ahmed Mir of the Congress, CPIM leader M.Y. Tarigami, and others. The participation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring their voices are heard in the political process of Jammu and Kashmir.