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| Displaced Kashmiri Hindus and elections | | First serious move to ensure maximum polling in Kashmir | | Neha
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 4: The voters belonging to the community of displaced Kashmiri Hindus have become very crucial for the major political parties, especially in the Valley where the contest this time could be six-cornered. Hitherto, the authorities hardly took the Kashmiri Hindu electorate seriously. In fact, there are reasons to believe that certain concerted moves had been made in the past to discourage the displaced Kashmiri Hindus to exercise their right to franchise. These voters can tilt the balance in favour of or against any political party. They matter in more than half a dozen assembly constituencies. These constituencies include Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Kangan, Ganderbal, Karnah, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Noorabad, Kulgam, Home-Shalibugh and Devsar.
Reports emanating from Srinagar and Delhi suggest that serious efforts are being made to ensure that the displaced Kashmiri Hindus, who have been living in different parts of the country, including Delhi, participate in the upcoming assembly election in a big way. The very fact that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to establish at least 26 special polling stations for over 90,000 Kashmiri Migrant voters in 44 assembly constituencies of Kashmir is a proof that the ECI means business. A report said: "92,000 registered Kashmiri migrant voters of 44 assembly segments are staying outside the Valley. To facilitate them to cast their vote, the Commission has decided to establish special polling stations at their respective places". "21 polling stations will be set up in Jammu where a large number of migrants are putting up while four special stations would be set-up in New Delhi and one in Udhampur," the report further said.
In the 2008 assembly elections, the ECI had set up only 18 polling stations, but the polling percentage remained quite low because of the indifferent attitude of vested interests who didn't want the Kashmiri Hindus to participate in the election in the real sense of them term.
The ECI has not only decided to set up eight more polling stations for the Kashmiri Hindu voters, but has also made up its mind to ensure that they do not face any difficulty at the time of polling. In this regard the ECI has reportedly said: "The process of filling Form-M for in-person voting and Form-12 for postal-ballot will simultaneously start and continue till November 9 for 14 constituencies of Kashmir which will go to polls in first two phases. A team of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), along with Zonal Officers/Camp Commandants and other staff, shall be stationed at five identified places in Jammu from 9 am to 5 pm during these days for assisting the voters in filling up, verifying, and attestation of Form-M so that they may not face any inconvenience". These are positive and well-meaning steps. There is no doubt that these steps would induce the Kashmiri migrant to vote in large numbers. |
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