There is a lot of noise about the record-breaking polling in the first phase of 24 seats in Jammu and Kashmir. The polling figures are being publicised as a victory for democracy. BJP leaders are claiming that this atmosphere has been created due to the efforts of the central government. But is it really so? If we go into the details of the figures, the reality will be visible. The reality is that this time too, the polling has been almost the same as it was last time, that is, 10 years ago in 2014. There has been a very marginal increase in the voting percentage compared to 2014. The difference is that in villages and remote areas where voting was less earlier, this time more voting has taken place. In contrast, the voting percentage has gone down in those areas where there was more voting earlier. This has happened due to the political conditions of the state.
In the first phase, the number of 24 seats in seven districts where voting took place was 21 in 2014. Three seats, Doda West, Anantnag East and Peddar, have increased after delimitation. The geographical boundaries of all the seats have also changed in the delimitation. Some new areas have been added to them. Last time, 59.94 or 60 percent votes were cast on these 21 seats. If we look at the same 21 seats, this time the voting percentage has been six percent less. But if we exclude the new seats and add the votes of the areas attached to them, then there has been an increase of only half a percent on 24 seats compared to last time. Therefore, a huge increase in voting percentage is actually a part of the narrative being created by the government. The other reality is that the queues seen in the villages or the increase in voting percentage is the effect of the appeal of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. Earlier, every time the Jamaat used to announce boycott of the elections. Due to this, voting was less in villages and remote areas. This time the old Jamaat leaders have supported candidates with separatist ideology. This has created the possibility of a different kind of crisis.