WPRs, Valmikis, Gorkhas rejoice as they solid vote for Ist time
* Peaceable, participative polls in J&Okay are historic : CEC
* Akhnoor tops in turnout, Jammu West at backside
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 1: At the same time as brisk polling was recorded in all rural segments, all however two of the 24 Meeting seats unfold over 4 districts of Jammu division which went to polls in third and last section of voting at this time registered decline within the proportion as in comparison with 2014 Meeting elections. Polling in 4 Metropolis constituencies of Jammu district together with Jammu East and West, Bahu and Jammu South-RS Pura was far lower than the seats in rural belt.
Akhnoor (79.70 p.c) and Marh and Chhamb seats (79 p.c every) topped in voting whereas Jammu West completed at backside with 57.65 computer polling.
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Polling proportion for 40 seats in third and last section stood at 68.72 whereas the turnout for all 90 seats in three phases was 63.45 p.c (tentative).
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Of 4 districts which went to polls at this time, Udhampur topped with 75.87 p.c turnout adopted by 75.22 p.c in Samba, 72.23 p.c in Kathua and 70.25 p.c in Jammu.
RS Pura-Jammu South recorded a decline of 12 p.c as in comparison with 2014 Meeting elections although it has been realigned throughout the delimitation course of. Different seats the place turnout went down from 2014 polls have been Kathua (8 p.c), Suchetgarh and Jammu West (7 p.c), Nagrota (6 p.c), Bahu (5 p.c) and Jammu East (4 p.c).
In 2014 polls; Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts collectively accounted for 21 Meeting constituencies. Nonetheless, a every seat was elevated in Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts after delimitation taking whole variety of constituencies to 24.
Chhamb and Chenani have been the one two segments which recorded extra turnout at this time as in opposition to 2014 polls. Turnout was up in Chhamb by 2.5 p.c whereas it elevated by 1.5 p.c in Chenani.
Nonetheless, the polling remained fully peaceable and no untoward incident was reported from any of the 24 Meeting constituencies. With at this time’s voting, the polling has been accomplished in all 90 seats of J&Okay and counting of votes will happen on October 8.
Minor glitches in EVMs and regular points amongst supporters of rival candidates have been reported from some cubicles however they have been resolved well timed and the polling concluded easily.
Destiny of many bigwigs together with former Ministers, legislators and officers contesting the elections was locked within the EVMs.
The Meeting election particularly in Jammu district will probably be remembered for the years by West Pakistani refugees, Valmikis and Gorkhas who solid their votes for the primary time within the Meeting polls as they weren’t handled as residents of Jammu and Kashmir for over 70 years until the BJP Authorities abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
In Jammu district’s 11 segments, Bishnah (SC) recorded 74.00 per cent polling, Suchetgarh (SC) 71.00 per cent, R S Pura-Jammu South 65.00 per cent, Bahu 60.51 per cent, Jammu East 62.00 per cent, Nagrota 77.7 per cent, Jammu West 57.65 per cent, and Jammu North 72.00 per cent, Akhnoor (SC) 79.70 per cent, Marh (SC) 79.00 per cent and Chhamb 79.00 per cent.
Within the six seats of Kathua district, Bani recorded 71.24 per cent voter turnout, Billawar 69.64 per cent, Basohli 67.24 per cent, Jasrota 71.79 per cent, Kathua (SC) 71.49 per cent and Hiranagar 71.18 per cent.
In Udhampur district’s 4 segments, Udhampur West recorded 76.92 per cent, Udhampur East 77.00 per cent, Chenani 76.82 per cent and Ramnagar (SC) 72.35 per cent polling.
Within the three seats of Samba district, Ramgarh (SC) recorded 76.50 per cent polling, Samba 72.90 per cent and Vijaypur 76.42 per cent.
“J&Okay Meeting elections have marked a major deepening of democracy which can echo within the pages of historical past and proceed to encourage a democratic spirit of the area for years to come back,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stated in an announcement after profitable conclusion of voting in all 90 seats.
He devoted the elections to the individuals of Jammu and Kashmir acknowledging their dedication and perception within the democratic course of.
“The peaceable and participative elections are historic, whereby democracy is taking root extra profoundly than ever earlier than, pushed by the desire of individuals of J&Okay,” he stated.
The fee stated meticulous planning and fixed vigil by it has ensured that the elections this time have been easy and streamlined, with no repolls recorded to this point.
“Regardless of a rise within the variety of Meeting constituencies from 83 in 2014 to 90 in 2024, the elections have been accomplished in three phases this time as in opposition to 5 phases in 2014.
“No main regulation and order incidents associated to the election have been reported, a major enchancment from 2014 when over 170 incidents have been reported, together with 87 on polling days,” the fee stated.
It stated there have been no complaints pertaining to arbitrary preventive detention of political functionaries in these elections which is unprecedented.
The fee had additionally strictly instructed in opposition to clubbing of polling stations simply earlier than the ballot day, and accordingly, voters voted at their precise polling station location versus 98 polling stations shifted in 2014 on the eleventh hour.
The position of cash and muscle energy has been curtailed to a major extent. Vigilance and seizures have been fortified by the coordinated efforts of the enforcement companies leading to seizures price Rs 130 crores, the very best ever within the historical past of Jammu and Kashmir elections and even surpassing Rs 100.94 crore determine throughout Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
The majority of seizures included medication price Rs 110.45 crore, the fee stated
These meeting polls have seen a seven per cent enhance within the variety of candidates contesting as in comparison with the Meeting elections in 2014.
Ladies candidates made a major leap, growing from 28 to 43 within the corresponding interval, whereas unbiased candidates noticed a 26 per cent rise.
Registered Unrecognized Political Events (RUPPs) additionally demonstrated a exceptional 71 per cent enhance in participation from 138 in 2014 to 236 in 2024, the EC stated.
In the meantime, West Pakistan refugees, Valmikis and Gorkhas solid their votes for the primary time in all 24 seats of Jammu division within the Meeting elections as earlier they might vote solely within the Parliamentary polls and never the State elections as they weren’t given citizenship rights until the BJP Authorities scrapped particular standing of J&Okay on August 5, 2019.
Ruldu Ram’s pleasure knew no bounds after he voted for the primary time in his life on the age of 90, almost eight many years after migrating from Pakistan throughout the Partition. He was amongst a whole lot of West Pakistan refugees within the border city of R S Pura who solid their votes for the Meeting elections. In addition they voted in remainder of the districts.
“I voted for the primary time. I used to be not entitled to vote earlier than. We got here from West Pakistan in 1947,” he stated.
This marks a historic second for a lot of who’ve lengthy lacked political illustration within the J&Okay Meeting for the previous 75 years.
Round 1.5 to 2 lakh individuals residing in numerous areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, significantly within the border areas, members of three communities – West Pakistan refugees (WPR), Valmikis, and Gorkhas – lastly have domicile standing following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A.
This made them natives of J&Okay and due to this fact they obtained rights to vote within the Meeting elections, employment, schooling and land possession. In July of this yr, the J&Okay administration determined to grant proprietary rights to WPR households for the State land allotted to them throughout their resettlement after the 1947 migration.
“For us, it’s a nationwide competition at this time. It’s a red-letter day within the historical past of those three communities, significantly West Pakistan refugees. We grew to become a part of true democracy in Jammu and Kashmir as we train our proper to vote for the primary time in our lifetime at this time,” president of the West Pakistan Refugees Motion Committee Labha Ram Gandhi stated.
“Credit score goes to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and House Minister Amit Shah for revoking Article 370, which enabled us to change into voters of Jammu and Kashmir. We’re grateful to them,” he added.
In line with information, 5,764 households of WPRs settled in numerous elements of Jammu after escaping West Pakistan throughout the Partition in 1947. The variety of WPRs has elevated to over 22,000 households or 1.5-2 lakh people.
Forward of voting day within the last section of polls in J&Okay, West Pakistan refugees celebrated by finishing up a parade via the markets in R S Pura’s Purnapind space as a whole lot of neighborhood members danced to beats of dhols and bands.
They visited a temple, provided prayers and exchanged sweets on the event. Related scenes of celebration have been witnessed in Samba and Akhnoor as nicely.
Enthusiasm was excessive amongst WPR voters at a number of polling cubicles in Charka, Bishnah, Chabbay Chak, Bhour Pind, Maira Mandrian, Kot Ghari and Akhnoor within the Jammu and Samba districts.
Fifty-two-year-old Parveen Kumar, whose household had fled throughout the Partition and camped in R S Pura’s Bhour camp space, voted at Bhour Pind.
He stated, “The decades-old curse has been lifted at this time as we change into voters of J&Okay. My father Nirmal Chand was a matriculate after they got here right here. He didn’t get any job when in 1947, a matriculate might safe positions like Tehsildars and officers. He was compelled to do labour to feed his household. Who’s answerable for that?”
“It was all due to Article 370, which barred us from changing into residents of J&Okay. However we’re grateful to Narendra Modi, who modified our destiny. It’s a competition for us. This present day will probably be etched within the reminiscence of all of us,” Kumar added.
Mohinder Kumar, whose household got here from Jhelum city in Pakistan and settled in Jammu, arrived together with his son Ankit to vote on the Gandhi Nagar Polling Station.
“We lived underneath the image of the half-moon and star (Pakistan flag) for 75 years in Jammu and Kashmir. There was a black spot on our foreheads. At the moment, it has been eliminated by the Central Authorities. It’s a nationwide competition for us,” Kumar stated.
Sikh Magar Singh (80), whose household got here from a village in Pakistan after dropping 4 members of the family to communal violence there in 1947, stated the primary technology who migrated are voting together with the younger technology for the primary time within the Meeting elections.
“We thank the Prime Minister for restoring the respect and dignity of over 2 lakh individuals by granting them citizenship. It restored all our rights, together with the appropriate to vote, the appropriate to jobs, and the appropriate to personal land. It’s a second of celebration for us,” he stated.
Twenty-year previous Trishika and her grandmother Sarveshwari Devi voted at a Polling Station within the border space of Akhnoor.
Round 2,000 members of the Gorkha neighborhood in Jammu’s Gorkha Nagar, too, have been brimming with pleasure now that they’ve voting rights.
Their ancestors migrated from Nepal to J&Okay many years in the past to serve alongside the previous Dogra Military. Even at this time, most households have a minimum of one member of the family who’s a battle veteran.
“It was a dream come true for me and my household to vote within the meeting elections. We categorical our gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and House Minister Amit Shah for reworking our fortunes right here. Due to their daring resolution to revoke Article 370, we at the moment are residents of J&Okay,” Suresh Chhetri stated.
Lengthy denied the appropriate to vote, members of the Valmiki neighborhood additionally exercised their franchise for the primary time within the Meeting elections at this time and termed it as a “historic second”.
The Valmikis have been initially delivered to J-Okay in 1957 from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district for sanitation work by the State Authorities.
“I’m a first-time voter on the age of 45. In my lifetime, we’re thrilled and stuffed with enthusiasm to take part in J-Okay’s Meeting elections for the primary time. It is sort of a huge competition for us,” Gharu Bhati, who voted at a polling station in Jammu, stated.
Bhati, who has led efforts for over 15 years to safe citizenship rights for his neighborhood stated, “It is a competition for the whole Valmiki neighborhood. We’ve voters as previous as 80 and as younger as 18. Two generations earlier than us have been denied this proper, however justice prevailed when Article 370 was abrogated, granting us citizenship of J-Okay.”
“For many years, our neighborhood, introduced right here for sanitation work, was denied fundamental rights, together with the appropriate to vote and citizenship of J-Okay. It’s a historic second for the whole Valmiki neighborhood,” he stated.
Roughly 12,000 members of the neighborhood residing in Gandhi Nagar and Dogra Corridor areas have been beforehand disadvantaged voting rights, schooling, job alternatives, and land possession attributable to absence of a state topic certificates.
“Two generations of our individuals have lived with out these rights, however justice prevailed with the abrogation of Article 370. We have been as soon as a darkish spot on Jammu and Kashmir’s justice and constitutional framework. At the moment, as a part of the most important democracy on this planet, Valmiki Samaaj, West Pakistan refugees, and Gorkha communities have lastly gained their constitutional rights after 75 years,” Bhati stated.
“At the moment, we’re voting. Tomorrow, we are going to characterize our individuals. This marks the start of a brand new period in our lives. We are going to deliver our points to the Meeting. Think about, a member of our neighborhood, who as soon as solely noticed scavenging as their destiny, can now aspire to be an MLA or perhaps a minister. That’s the magnitude of change we’re witnessing,” he stated.
Standing in an extended queue, 19-year-old Komal shared the identical sentiment, saying, “I’m lucky to vote. My 74-year-old grandmother can be voting at this time. I’m completely satisfied that the period of injustice and discrimination has ended.”
One other neighborhood member, 22-year previous Aikta Mathoo alongside together with his 53-year-old father, a sanitation employee, solid his vote on the Gandhi Nagar Polling Station.
“We each are voting for the primary time. My father didn’t vote in previous elections. He couldn’t get a greater job right here. Now I aspire to change into a decide. The credit score goes to the Central Authorities, which abrogated Article 370 and made us residents in J-Okay,” he stated.
The first demand of the Valmiki neighborhood is enchancment of their dwelling situations.
With their newfound voting rights, they’re optimistic about advocating for higher housing, schooling, and employment alternatives for the neighborhood.
Earlier within the day, Union Minister of State within the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh solid his vote at Gandhi Nagar.
Democratic Progressive Azad Social gathering (DPAP) chairman and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was additionally among the many early voters right here. He stated that unemployment is the largest situation within the Union Territory however it has not been given due consideration by each regional and nationwide events.
Azad solid his vote at Authorities Ladies Greater Secondary College, Gandhi Nagar within the first hour of polling.
“Each voter, whether or not male or feminine, aged or younger, ought to come out to vote as a result of this election is going on after an extended hole of 10 years… It’s their selection who they need to vote for, which get together or candidate, however they need to vote,” he stated.
A number of former Ministers and candidates have been amongst those that exercised their franchise at numerous polling stations.
After casting his vote, senior BJP chief and candidate for the Nagrota Meeting phase, Devendder Singh Rana, predicted that the BJP Authorities would assume energy in Jammu and Kashmir.
He cited the developmental initiatives spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as pivotal to the citizens’s help.
Rana expressed gratitude to the Election Fee, administration, and safety forces for guaranteeing free and truthful elections in Jammu and Kashmir, and stated “this marks a triumph for democracy as J-Okay undergoes transformation.”
“Democracy has prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir. The individuals have defeated Pakistan-sponsored terrorism,” former Minister and BJP candidate for Jammu North, Sham Lal Sharma stated after casting his vote right here.
Former Minister and candidate for Ramgarh constituency in Samba district, Dr Devender Kumar Manyal, who alongside together with his household solid his vote right here, stated, “The BJP will emerge victorious in Jammu and Kashmir. We are going to win this election with a majority.”
Voting proportion
2024 2014
Bishnah (SC) 74.00 76.15
Suchetgarh (SC) 71.00 78.32
R S Pura-Jammu South 65.00 77.53
Bahu 60.51 65.28 (Gandhinagar)
Jammu East 62.00 66.17
Nagrota 77.60 83.22
Jammu West 57.65 64.09
Jammu North 72.00 74.52
(Raipur Domana)
Akhnoor (SC) 79.70 81.10
Marh (SC) 79.00 81.58
Chhamb 79.00 77.55
Bani 75.00 78.99
Billawar 71.00 77.15
Basohli 69.37 73.70
Jasrota 74.26 —
Kathua (SC) 72.20 80.66
Hiranagar 72.00 72.34
Udhampur West 76.92 79.44
Udhampur East 77.00 —
Chenani 76.82 75.18
Ramnagar-SC 72.35 75.43
Ramgarh (SC) 76.50 –
Samba 72.90 75.60
Vijaypur 76.42 78.58