In the recent electoral phase, the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed an unprecedented surge in voter turnout, marking a historic event in nearly six decades. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his commendations to the electorate for their steadfast dedication to democratic principles.
“Kudos to the resilient citizens of Baramulla for their unwavering allegiance to democratic ideals. Such active engagement signifies a commendable trend,” expressed PM Modi in a post on X, in response to a statement by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha lauding the “promising” turnout in Baramulla.
“An impressive voter turnout, surpassing 58% in the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency, is incredibly heartening and underscores the populace’s resolve and steadfast trust in the democratic process. I extend my felicitations and gratitude to the Baramulla populace for participating in the grand assembly of our democracy in substantial numbers. I commend the concerted efforts of all stakeholders in ensuring the conduct of voting that is free, equitable, accessible, inclusive, and peaceful. It’s gratifying to witness young voters articulating and commemorating their unwavering belief in democratic values. May this positive trajectory endure in the ensuing phase,” remarked Sinha in the statement.
The Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency recorded a nearly 60% voter turnout on Monday, marking the highest participation rate since the 1967 parliamentary election. Speaking at a press briefing in Srinagar following the conclusion of polls, Chief Electoral Officer Jammu and Kashmir, PK Pole, disclosed that out of the over 17.38 lakhs registered voters, approximately 10.43 lakhs exercised their franchise for the 22 candidates vying for the Baramulla seat. He underscored that the polling transpired peacefully, devoid of any adverse incidents throughout the day. “The situation has demonstrated significant improvement over the past four years, contributing to the heightened voter turnout in this election. Notably, Sopore, which previously witnessed turnout figures in single digits, witnessed a substantial surge. In contrast to a mere 4% turnout in 2019, Sopore recorded a turnout of 44.36% today,” he elaborated.
Eminent contenders for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat encompass former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah, former minister and People’s Conference (PC) President Sajad Gani Lone, Independent candidate Engineer Rashid, and People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Muhammad Fayaz Mir.
The Election Commission of India had set up 2,103 polling stations in the Baramulla parliamentary constituency, with 905 booths in the Baramulla district alone designated as critical. The polling stations were outfitted with 4,206 CCTV cameras for live webcasting, supplemented by an additional 50 cameras at the primary entrances.
The Baramulla constituency encompasses 18 Assembly segments, including six in Kupwara (Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, and Langate), seven in Baramulla (Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, and Pattan), three in Bandipora (Sonwari, Bandipora, and Gurez), and two in Budgam post-delimitation.