Kashmir Scenario Special Analysis
As the elections concluded for the Srinagar Assembly constituencies and with almost each constituency witnessing a rise between 3 to 15 percent in turnout the elections in Kashmir have become all the more interesting in Kashmir. Who will be helped by an impressive increase of 15 percent turnout in Eidgah constituency, who will be having more chances with 12 percent increase in voter turnout in Sonwar Assembly segment, who will get benefited from 10 percent increase in overall voter turnout in Khanyar and Amirakadal as compared to 2008 elections.
In an quiet interesting development, Srinagar made a departure from its usual poll boycott this year with 30% voting – a 30-year record – in the penultimate phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Pertinently, as a matter of fact, Polling began on a sluggish note this morning, but picked up as the day progressed. Sixteen seats in the Valley and two in Jammu region voted today.
Is this a vote of change or has this increased vote has come to further strengthen bastion of National Conference (Srinagar). All these and other important questions will get apt answer on the counting day on 23 rd December as the ballot boxes will be opened to know who is winning and who is not.
As we went constituency after constituency in Srinagar the voter turnout was witnessing an imminent surge within only few pockets witnessing complete boycott.
On the other hand, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be hoping that new voter in Srinagar has come for it while as NC would be hoping that it has once again come to make it once again clean sweep of the Assembly seats of Srinagar.