Jammu, May 14: Kashmiri Pandit migrant voters on Monday came out in good numbers in different parts of Jammu to cast their votes for Srinagar constituency that went to polls in the 4th phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with over 38 percent voters exercising their right to franchise.
According to data available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), 16338 KP electorates were eligible to cast their votes for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
The election commission of India had set up 23 polling stations, including two auxiliary polling stations, across Jammu district for the migrant population.
Out of these total electorates 6327 KP migrant voters including 3227 male and 2672 female voters exercised their franchise.
“I had to wait for almost an hour in the queue in the morning to cast my vote. People were enthusiastic about this election but there was disappointment as many couldn’t vote due to non-availability of their names in the voting list,” said Sumit, a KP voter, who voted in Chinore area of Jammu.
Since morning, when the polling started at 7 am, people in good numbers came out to vote in the early hours when the temperature was not so high.
“We are voting so that our issues and concerns of return to the Kashmir Valley and resettlement in our home land is speeded up. This has remained our long pending demand and we are waiting for the parties who can fulfill this,” said Sheetal Bhat, a KP voter, originally from Habbakadal area of Srinagar.
From Jagti to Purkhoo, Rehari to Miran Sahib, ECI had established polling stations. But still many people complained of not having their names in the voters list and they had to return without casting their votes. There was chaos at polling stations like Chinore and few other places where people complained of not having their names in the list due to one or the other reasons.
“We had filled the M-form and gave all the details but our names were found incorrect due to which we were not allowed to vote,” said Usha Bhat, another voter.
Few KP voters were of the opinion that as compared to 2019, things had improved a lot and as compared to previous elections, the number of voters had increased.
