Jamaat stronghold sees electors turn up in good numbers
As the Valley witnessed the first phase of polling on Wednesday, several areas in the Kulgam Assembly segment, considered a stronghold of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, saw people come out to vote.
Out of four candidates fielded by Jamaat in South Kashmir, Sayar Ahmad Reshi is the prominent face from the Kulgam segment.
The Kulgam seat saw 62.70 per cent polling. In Kulgam Assembly segment, Sayar is up against CPM veteran Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami, who is the legislator of Kulgam since 1996. Several other candidates are in fray from this seat.
The banned Jamaat-e-Islami is eying Kulgam seat for the first time since 1987 when Kulgam had elected Jamaat ideologue Abdul Razak Mir, and was among the four elected candidates of the Muslim United Front — a conglomerate of political parties, social groups and individuals.
On Wednesday, several areas, which are Jamaat stronghold, saw first-time voters as well. In the Bugam area of Kulgam, there were some who exercised their franchise for the first time.
“I voted for the candidate after seeing the manifesto of our leaders,” Rashid Khanday, a local resident, told The Tribune. “It is important to vote and to see the elected government restored,” he said.
He said: “Youth is facing a lot of problems and these need to be resolved by political leaders. A large number of unemployed youth need jobs in Kashmir.”
Candidates backed by Jamaat held a huge rally in Bugam this month.
Farhat Ahmad, a local resident, said: Wasting a vote didn’t serve any purpose. I think people have realised the importance of voting. So, they came out to vote today”.
In the Kulgam Assembly segment, several other areas, which used to witness low polling percentage, broke the boycott on Wednesday. There were serpentine queues outside polling stations. There was an enthusiasm among people.
Shameem Ahmad Thoker, who is chief election in-charge of the banned Jamaat, told The Tribune that all Jamaat strongholds in Kulgam voted in large numbers.
“This time, we didn’t see any boycott from any of the Jamaat stronghold areas. People came out in large numbers to elect their candidate,” he said, adding that Jamaat-affiliated people in all four districts came out to vote on Wednesday.
