NEW DELHI: For the first time, Jammu and Kashmir’s elections are under international scrutiny, with senior diplomats from 16 countries invited to observe the voting process. On Wednesday, these foreign observers praised the elections, with the US diplomat describing them as “very healthy and very democratic,” and Singapore’s representative calling them comparable to polls in their own countries.
US Deputy Chief of Mission in Delhi, Jorgan K Andrews, said, “It is great to see the enthusiasm… to see Kashmiris voting after a pause of 10 years. We are very excited to see the results. It looks very healthy and very democratic.” Singapore’s Deputy Head of Mission in Delhi, Cheng Wei Wei Alice, added, “I am glad that all the voters showed up. That’s wonderful to see.”
South Korean diplomat Sang Woo Lim expressed his appreciation for witnessing democracy in action, particularly praising the concept of all-women ‘pink polling stations,’ calling it a unique initiative to encourage more participation.
These diplomats, from countries including the US, South Korea, Spain, Mexico, and South Africa, visited polling stations in Ompora (Budgam), Amira Kadal, and Chinar Bagh in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk constituency. These areas had seen low turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar described the high turnout of 61.4% in Phase 1 and 57% (provisional) in Phase 2 as “history in the making.” He noted the significance of people standing in long queues in areas where boycott calls were once prevalent, calling it a “standing ovation for democracy.”
While voter turnout in Phase 2 exceeded the 2024 Lok Sabha polls (52.2%), it was slightly lower than the 61.8% turnout recorded in the 2014 assembly elections. The turnout was higher in districts like Budgam, Ganderbal, and Srinagar compared to the 2024 LS polls, although still lower than the 2014 assembly polls.
Despite a low provisional turnout of 29.8% in Srinagar, it was an improvement over the 24.8% and 27.7% recorded in the 2024 and 2014 polls, respectively. However, Jammu’s Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch districts reported lower turnouts compared to 2014, although Rajouri and Poonch saw better participation than in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
US and Singapore diplomats both commented on the similarities between J&K’s polls and those in their own countries, noting the use of schools and government buildings for voting. South Korean diplomat Lim found the experience in Kashmir unique, particularly praising the idea of pink polling stations as a creative way to boost voter turnout.
