NVI Special Correspondent
Kulgam, Sep 18 (NVI): Kulgam Assembly of South Kashmir has always seen the two faces of the same coin—boycott and the polling, though thin one. The less voting in this picturesque hamlet has always supported the CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami who has been four-time MLA from the constituency. But this time, the wicket is different as Tarigami is locking horns with the Jamaat-e-Islami backed Sayar Ahmed Reshi in a thrilling contest.
A question, however, remains: will Kulgam once again rely on the old horse or will it choose a new lamb to serve them. Talking to reporters, a visibly confident Tarigami said he has cast his vote and feels happy. “I am with my people and people are with me. I wish more and more people to cast votes and take part in this festival of democracy that has arrived in Kashmir after a gap of ten years. Last six years have been the years of worries and pain for all of us,” he said. “Through this vote, people want to write a new chapter of history.”
Soon after casting his vote, JeI backed Sayar Ahmed Reshi said: “With full satisfaction, I have cast my vote. I am happy to see great enthusiasm among the voters.” Pertinently, JeI is in the fray for the first time since 1987. Its first ever political rally at Kulgam last week raised goose bumps in the political circles of Kashmir as a sea of people participated in the same.
A unique thing in Kulgam today was that the areas that were known for staying away from polls witnessed long queues of voters outside the polling booths. Kulgam’s Bugam village was known for zero percentage of voting in the past so many decades but not today. “We have realized that boycotting polls was futile. Today, we are using our vote to ensure peace, prosperity, development and a life full of happiness far from guns, bullets and stones,” said Imtiyaz Ahmed Dar, a resident of Bugam, who has never voted in the past. Dar, 50, said they have been living a life full of fear and now they believe this vote will bring peace and end fear forever.
Kulgam’s other areas known for maintaining boycott include Rewani, Frisal and Qaimoh also saw huge participation of people including women, elderly and first time voters. “Change is a must and we are voting for the same. Have seen bloodshed and life full of fears. We are voting to see the end of this all,” said Javaid Ahmed, a young voter in the Redwani area of Kulgam. (News Vibes of India)
