Budgam, May 20: Voters from the Beerwah Assembly constituency have cast their votes with a focus on development, and the participation of women in the Beerwah and Budgam assembly segments has been notably high compared to previous parliamentary elections.
Zahoor Ahmad Malik, a voter from Sonpah Village, told Rising Kashmir, “I have cast my vote for the development of our area. The people have cast their votes as per their own choice; everyone has the right to vote as they wish. We can’t force anyone to vote for any particular candidate.”
He expressed hope that the successful representative in the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency will raise the issues of the Kashmir Valley in the Parliament of India.
Khazir Mohammad Bhat, a 65-year-old voter from Aripathan village, reflected on his lifetime of voting in parliamentary elections, saying that many public issues in his village remain unresolved. “Today, I cast my vote for the development of our village, as we lack proper public facilities. We believe in democracy, and this is our democratic right to choose our representative,” he said. Bhat highlighted the issue of disproportionate power bills affecting both below-poverty-line and above-poverty-line residents, calling for equitable billing practices.
Altaf Ahmad Dar, another voter from Chewdara village, said he is earning his livelihood through the agricultural and horticultural sectors like that of many others in Kashmir. “The government should provide free seeds and apple trees to farmers living below the poverty line. This would boost the agricultural and horticultural sectors in the Kashmir Valley, generating employment and increasing income for farmers,” Dar said.
Women’s participation in this election has been notably high, a marked increase compared to previous elections. Every polling booth in the Beerwah and Budgam assembly segments was equipped with wheelchairs for special-abled voters, ensuring they could participate in the voting process comfortably.
