A new controversy in making in J&K on assembly electoral roll

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Mr Hirdesh Kumar on August 17, 2022 said around 2.5 million new voters are expected to be enrolled in the Union Territory as the special summary revision of electoral rolls is being held for the first time after abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. He also described the ongoing exercise to complete the special summary revision of electoral rolls by November 25 as a "challenging task".

“After the abrogation of Article 370, many people who were not enlisted as voters in the erstwhile state of J&K are now eligible to vote and in addition anyone who is living ordinarily can also avail the opportunity to get enlisted as a voter in J&K in accordance with the provisions of representation of the Peoples Act,” Kumar told reporters here.

Kumar further added that there is no need for a person to have a domicile certificate of J&K to become a voter. “An employee, a student, a labourer or anyone from outside who is living ordinarily in J&K, can enlist his or her name in the voting list. The documents will be scrutinized by the government officials concerned who will take a decision after being satisfied about the claim.”

He said like in the past, many residents of J&K who are working in armed forces and paramilitary forces and are posted outside the Union Territory have an option to get themselves registered as service voters and can avail of the facility of a postal ballot to register their choice at the time of the elections.

Kashmir politicians react sharply

Political leaders in Kashmir have sharply reacted to reports that people ordinarily residing in Jammu and Kashmir even for purposes of work can cast vote in the next assembly election in the Union Territory, accusing the BJP of tilting the balance in its favour.

The first reaction has already come from J&K Peoples Conference President and former minister Sajjad Gani Lone. Taking to Twitter said, “This is dangerous I don’t know what they want to achieve. This is much more than mischief. Democracy is a relic, especially in the context of Kashmir. Please remember 1987. We are yet to come of that. Don’t replay 1987. It will be disastrous.”

This is dangerous. I don’t know what they want to achieve. This is much more than mischief. Democracy is a relic, especially in the context of Kashmir. Please remember 1987. We r yet to come out of that.

Don’t replay 1987. It will be as disastrous. https://t.co/STU1U7hAgi

— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) August 17, 2022

"Is the BJP so insecure about support from genuine voters of J&K that it needs to import temporary voters to win seats? None of these things will help the BJP when the people of J&K are given a chance to exercise their franchise," National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted.

Is the BJP so insecure about support from genuine voters of J&K that it needs to import temporary voters to win seats? None of these things will help the BJP when the people of J&K are given a chance to exercise their franchise. https://t.co/ZayxjHiaQy

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 17, 2022

He was reacting to media reports which claimed that people who are ordinarily residing in Jammu and Kashmir -- for work, business or education -- can vote in the next assembly elections.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the real aim of the process was to disempower the local population.

"GOIs decision to defer polls in J&K preceded by egregious gerrymandering tilting the balance in BJPs favour & now allowing non-locals to vote is obviously to influence election results. The real aim is to continue ruling J&K with an iron fist to disempower locals," Mufti said.

GOIs decision to defer polls in J&K preceded by egregious gerrymandering tilting the balance in BJPs favour & now allowing non locals to vote is obviously to influence election results. Real aim is to continue ruling J&K with an iron fist to disempower locals. https://t.co/zHzqaMseG6

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 17, 2022

Going forward

According to the rescheduled timeline issued by the election commission recently, an integrated draft electoral roll will be published on September 15, while the period for filing claims and objections was set between September 15 to October 25 followed by disposal of claims and objections on November 10.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shri Hirdesh Kumar dismissed the notion that Rohingya Muslims, who have taken shelter in Jammu and other parts, can get themselves registered as voters.

The special summary revision of electoral rolls is taking place for the first time after January 1, 2019, and so we are expecting massive changes in the voter list given the fact that a large number of youngsters have attained the age of 18 or 18 plus over the past three years.