‘Hope for a change’ or ‘protest against 370 scrapping’? Making sense of Srinagar’s highest voter turnout since 1996

The Srinagar parliamentary constituency, which went to polling on May 13, recorded a voter turnout of about 38 per cent. This marks the highest turnout in the constituency since the 1996 general elections when it saw 40.9 per cent of voters exercising their franchise.

Comprising volatile old city and other areas of Srinagar district, as well as Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian, the constituency has witnessed low voter turnout in the last few decades during Lok Sabha elections.

Lok Sabha Election 2024: At 38%, Srinagar records highest voter turnout since 1996

The constituency has recorded 14.43 per cent turnout in 2019, 25.86 per cent in 2019, 25.55 per cent in 2009, 18.57 per cent in 2004, 11.93 per cent in 1999, 30.06 per cent in 1998 and 40.94 per cent in 1996 general election. No election was held in 1991 due to turmoil in the valley.

In a departure from previous elections, Monday’s polling in Srinagar was held without any boycott calls from any group. This perhaps explains why people enthusiastically flaunted their fingers with indelible ink mark after casting votes, another rarity in Kashmir.

“This time, there was no boycott, and no polling station recorded zero per cent votes, which speaks of people’s firm trust in the democratic system as imperative for their overall welfare," Chief Election Officer, Pandurang K Pole, said.

The CEO attributed the high turnout to ‘improved security and law and order environment in last few years, and more importantly, a strong belief of the voters that “it is the ballot which can lead to sustainable development in the region", among other things.

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Some voters said their choice was driven by hope