Anantnag’s Shangus sees surge among young voters 

Anantnag, May 25: The Anantnag-Rajouri constituency witnessed a surge of enthusiasm as it went to the polls in the sixth and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. Many young voters expressed their hopes for better job opportunities and improved infrastructure in their area.
From early morning, long queues of voters, particularly first-time voters, were seen at polling stations across the region, eager to cast their votes for employment, development, and basic amenities.
Sabzar Sofi, a resident of the Akad-Shangus area in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, said that despite completing his PhD from Bhopal, he is still without a job. “I have voted for the first time with the hope that the government will upgrade the private sector in Kashmir so that educated youth can get jobs. I hope this election brings leaders who will focus on creating tech hubs and fostering innovation in our region,” he said.
In the neighbouring village of Chera Pora, 22-year-old Mehraj Khan expressed optimism about the electoral process. “It is a great chance that our leaders will speak about the ground realities of Jammu and Kashmir inside the parliament. I want to start my own business, but there are so many obstacles. We need more government support for start-ups and small businesses to thrive. I voted today hoping for change in that direction,” he said.
After casting his vote at the Reni Pora polling station in Shangus, another young voter highlighted the challenges of starting a business due to a lack of resources and support. “If the community invested more in local businesses, we could create more jobs and keep our talent from moving away,” he said.
Khan believes that this election could be a turning point for the region, addressing rising unemployment and bringing much-needed development. “We want development at the ground level and a visible change in our locality. Our area was neglected and sidelined by previous politicians,” he added. “Young generations want new change and are voting for new faces.”
Tasaduq Tahseen, 26, from Akhal, expressed his determination to vote for a capable candidate. “I have voted for an educated and well-qualified candidate rather than people who cannot even write their names. It was a good experience for us. We have many hopes from the candidate we voted for,” he said.
Tahseen emphasized the need for a vocal leader who can advocate for the region in Parliament. “That is why you see the youth voting today in large numbers,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency reported a voter turnout of 51.35 per cent till 5 PM. The Rajouri assembly seat had the highest turnout at 67.09 per cent, while Nowshera witnessed a turnout of 65.47 per cent.