Constituency Speaks: Ganderbal, Kangan constituencies eager for change, seek development

Ganderbal, Aug 22: The last Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2014, and since then much has changed in the political and social landscape.
With poll bugle sounded by Election Commission of India, anticipation is building across the region. Among the most vocal constituencies are Ganderbal and Kangan, where residents are eager for change and are demanding better governance and development.
In conversations with Rising Kashmir, many residents of Ganderbal and Kangan said that they had been used merely as vote banks by various political parties. “We have been voting for years, but what have we received in return?” asked a local from Ganderbal. “Now, with the upcoming elections, we hope for real change, not just empty promises.”
The demands from these constituencies are clear: they want significant improvements in infrastructure, particularly in the health and education sectors. Locals have emphasized the need for better healthcare facilities, upgraded schools, and reduced electricity tariffs. They are also calling for lower interest rates on bank loans to ease financial burdens.
One of the most pressing issues in the Kangan constituency is the unfinished 50-bed hospital in Kullan Gund, a project that was initiated before 2014 by the then-coalition government but has yet to be completed. The hospital, according to locals, has become a symbol of broken promises. “We expect that whoever forms the new government will make completing this project a priority.”
Residents also highlighted the need for job creation, particularly for the unemployed youth and casual laborers. The permanent employment of Special Police Officers (SPOs) and the increase in their monthly tariffs are also on the priority list of demands.
In Kangan, where several mega and mini power projects are located, area suffers from power shortages, especially during winter. “We have three mega power projects and three new mini power projects in our district, yet we still face power crises,” said a local resident. “We hope the new government will ensure that we receive electricity from these projects, as we deserve.”
Irfan Bashir Wani, a resident of Kangan, voiced his concerns over the state of the region’s infrastructure. “Our health facilities, including PHC Kullan, the trauma hospital in Gund, and the Sub District Hospital in Kangan, need upgrade. The education sector is in shambles—one room for 95 students in a government school is unacceptable. Our children deserve better,” he said. “Sports facilities are also lacking, with no proper playgrounds for our youth. My vote, I hope, will be a game-changer for our area. I trust that the promises made will be delivered in both letter and spirit.”
As the election draws near, the people of Ganderbal and Kangan are not only hoping for a new government but also for a new era of development. Their expectations are high, and they are ready to hold the incoming administration accountable for the promises made.