Mir Iqbal
Sonawari Bandipora, Nov 25: Khurshid Hussain and Vilayat Jaffri, in their early twenties, are trying to reach to the front of a serpentine queue to cast their ballot after long wait early in the morning at Sarai Dangerpora polling station in Sonawari constituency.
The excited youth flanked by others said that they have been waiting in the queue from 7: 40 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. despite cold weather to utilize the opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice.
“Let’s handle this matter (voting) this time by ourselves to decide our destiny and not by our elders, who have been deceived by traditional politicians for decades,” they said, adding, voting is the only tool left with them to bring a change in Kashmir.
These first- timers were excited to lead the rows and were seen literally fighting with polling staff to repair the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) that developed some technical snag in the morning. “It is 8:10 a.m. and voting is supposed to start from 8 am,” they said.
A large number of first time voters were seen waiting with hundreds of voters in two large queues at Shadipora-B in Sumbal-Sonawari constituency where 117 votes were cast out of total 1116 votes in first hour of voting.
“I have come to vote so that those people are elected who will help generate employment in the State. I want to see my area gets benefitted from the person who is elected for next six years,” Sheikh Asif, a young voter said.
Tabasum Ara, with her face covered by her headscarf who was also eagerly waiting in a long queue at Wangipora polling station said that she was going to vote first time in her life and wanted to cast it for a change.
However, many young could not explain the “benefit” which they could get by voting. They still tried to explain that even in 21st century their area sans electricity, proper healthcare and youth friendly policies including Government jobs, financial assistance in higher education and corruption free Government administration.
At Sumbal polling station, 237 first time voters were registered out of total 1124 total voters after Lok Sabha elections. Dozens of youth mostly pursuing their education in colleges and voting first time said that they came out to vote for their better future prospects and peaceful life. “We have nothing here. Our leaders have deceived us from decades. We will teach them a lesson now by ensuring full participation in every election by defeating them,” they said.
Although, many young faces were enthusiastically voting with the belief to defeat those leaders who have spread reign of terror in the area. “Some politicians have become threat for our survival. They use different ways to harass us. To keep them out of power we are here in queues against them,” they said.
But for young women folk, development of their area, education and generating employment are the key issues they voted for.
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