Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kulgam, Sep 18: Despite the ongoing apple and paddy harvest season, residents of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district turned out in impressive numbers to cast their votes in three key assembly segments. While the fields were bustling with activity, voters made time to participate in the democratic process.
Among the voters was Abdul Majid, a labourer working in a paddy field. “It is a crucial time for us as the paddy needs to be cut and transported to threshing yards, but this vote is even more important. Our future is at stake, and we cannot miss this opportunity to choose our representatives,” he said.
Another local labourer, Bashir Ahmad, said. “The apple harvest is in full swing. I have been picking apples for the past couple of days, but early this morning I rushed here to vote. We labour all year in these orchards, but if we don’t vote, our voices won’t be heard.”
The sight of voters still wearing their work clothes was common, as women and men alike stepped away from their fields and orchards to join the polling lines.
Shakeela Bano, who had been busy in an orchard earlier, said, “It is exhausting to balance both harvesting and voting, but this is our right. We may be labourers, but we understand the value of our vote.”
Mohammad Yousuf, an apple picker from Yaripora village, said, “The crops can wait for a while, but voting can’t. We don’t get many chances to elect a leader here—it takes years, so this election is important.”
The district comprises three assembly constituencies: D.H. Pora, Kulgam and Devsar, with 3,28,740 registered voters, including 1,64,829 males, 1,63,898 females, and 13 transgender voters.
Overall, Kulgam district recorded an approximate voter turnout of 62.61 percent.
D.H. Pora Assembly segment recorded the highest voter turnout in Kulgam at 68.43 percent, followed by Kulgam at 62.74 percent and Devsar at 57.34 percent.
