Tectonic Shift in Valley Politics: High Voter Turnout in Anantnag-Rajouri
Located 66 km south of Srinagar, the picturesque village of Heff was buzzing with excitement and anticipation on a Saturday afternoon. Voters flocked to a government high school that housed two polling stations for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, which was up for grabs in the sixth phase of elections.
Heff and Arwani, two villages plagued by militants, exuded a sense of enthusiasm on polling day. In Heff, where 12 young men and boys were laid to rest in a small graveyard at the entrance of the hamlet, the influence of Jamaat-e-Islami, a religio-political organization with a strong Islamic ideology, was evident.
The Jamaat Influence
Since 1989, the Jamaat had boycotted elections in Jammu and Kashmir, with Heff adhering to their stance. However, the political landscape changed dramatically after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. This shift prompted residents like Abdul Rashid Mohand to embrace their Indian citizenship and express a desire for peace.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat underwent a transformation due to delimitation, merging Poonch and Rajouri districts with Kashmir division’s Shopian and Anantnag districts. In contrast to the dismal 8.76% voter turnout in the previous elections, rural areas of Anantnag-Rajouri witnessed a surge in enthusiasm, with even former Jamaat members participating in the electoral process.
The Contenders
In a constituency with 20 candidates, including key figures like Mehbooba Mufti, Main Altaf Larvi, and Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, the race for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat was intense. While the BJP chose not to field a candidate openly, its support for the Apni Party nominee was evident. By 5 pm, the constituency had recorded a promising 51.88% voter turnout.
As voting progressed in Arwani village, located just 5 km from Mehbooba Mufti’s hometown, the shift in the political landscape was evident. Despite a history of violence and resistance, the village saw a significant turnout, marking a departure from its past election trends.
With a challenging past marred by conflicts and losses, the residents of Heff and Arwani displayed resilience and determination to participate in the democratic process. Their votes symbolized a new chapter in the region’s political narrative, one characterized by hope and optimism.