After the record-breaking turnout in Kashmir, all eyes are now set on counting when the fate of several top politicians would finally be decided.
Authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes for three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir on Tuesday. The counting of votes will begin with the rest of the country from the morning of June 4.
The fate of several prominent candidates including former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone of the People’s Conference (PC) , jailed leader Abdul Rashid Sheikh aka Engineer Rashid of Awami Ithad Party (AIP), Mian Altaf of the National Conference (NC) and Waheed Parra of Peoples Democratic Party will be decided on Tuesday.
For the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, counting centres have been established at four places including Government Degree College (Boys), Baramulla, for Baramulla constituency; Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) for Srinagar constituency; Government Degree College (Boys), Anantnag and Government PG College, Rajouri for Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.
District Magistrate Srinagar Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, who is the Returning Officer for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency said that elaborate arrangements have been made for counting of votes at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) on the banks of Dal lake.
He said a three tier security in and around the SKICC for the counting of votes is in place.
“Elaborate arrangements are in place for the counting of votes at SKICC amid three-tier security which will take care for the peaceful and smooth counting of votes on Tuesday,” Bhat said.
In Baramulla, several schools, especially those along the Srinagar- Baramulla national highway, would remain shut on Tuesday.
The authorities in north Kashmir have advised motorists to avoid travelling on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway on the counting day until necessary.
Authorities have announced that traffic will be diverted onto other routes to ensure smooth movement in north Kashmir.
The three Lok Sabha seats of Kashmir recorded a turnout of over 50%, breaking the records since 1989, when the insurgency began. Baramulla recorded the highest voter turnout of 59%, Srinagar 38%, while Anantnag-Rajouri recorded 53% voting.
The Lok Sabha polls in J&K was the first major electoral battle since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into Union territories in August 2019.
Several political parties in Kashmir have geared up for celebrations.
