Omkar Dattatray
The crucial and historical festival of democracy that is the J &K Assembly Elections have begun with the first phase of three phase election held on 18th September 2024.The people and to be specific the JK voters are jubilant ,enthusiastic about their participation in these long overdue polls and they also feel proud about the democratic exercise first time since the historical decision of abrogation of article 370 coupled with the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. All eyes are set on the polls and the psephologists ,poll experts and the whole world is watching the J&K polls and it is to be seen ,how will the precious ballot defeat bullet in the terrorist ravaged UT. The terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has not died down yet though BJP led NDA government of Modi is busy claiming that terrorism in the UT is at its last leg and is on death bed .But the ground realities does not corroborate the government claims .The sporadic acts of terror are raising their ugly head in J &K .In fact from some months the terrorists have changed their strategy and under pressure in Valley has shifted their focus to otherwise peaceful and violence free Jammu region as many terrorists attacks have taken place in and around Jammu and it can be said that now Jammu region has become a hot bed of terrorism .Thus in the face of this emerging security scenario ,the pertinent question arises will the valuable and precious ballot defeat bullet in the violence hit UT? So the million dollar question is will ultimately the exercise of vote by the beleaguered and alienated people give a set back and hard jerk to militancy and it has to be seen .The way people of Jammu and Kashmir are showing faith in these elections and the manner they are actively participating in the big carnival of elections is perhaps enough to surmise that the vote will extinguish the flames of militancy from the militant ravaged UT. The ballot is the strongest and peaceful weapon in the hands of the electorate to frustrate the evil designs of militancy and to eliminate the residual militancy from the region .Ballot is definitely a powerful and democratic weapon which will show door to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and thus in fact ballot will defeat bullet in militancy ravaged Jammu and Kashmir .It is so good and really encouraging that people are once again showing faith in democracy and coming in large numbers to exercise their vote to elect their representatives who in turn will form a democratic government which will be responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people .It is very encouraging and heartening that some voters of Jammu and Kashmir are travelling long distance from their place of working to their residences to cast vote .It shows that people have understood and realized the importance and value of vote and this is a welcome development .The people of J&K are overwhelmingly taking part in the elections as it was proved by the significant and greater voter turnout in the first phase of assembly polls on 18th September. It is a matter of satisfaction and pride that in the first phase of assembly polls ,there was 61.11% voter turnout .It shows that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are attaching much importance to elections as they have voted in large numbers in all the 24 Assembly constituencies .The record of voter turnout has even surpassed the election participation in Lok Sabha elections .It in other words implies that democracy has triumphed in Jammu and Kashmir and the ballot has defeated bullet by peaceful means of higher and active participation in the assembly polls .The eyes of the international community are set on the crucial assembly elections and they have know understood that India has given to the people of Jammu and Kashmir the democratic weapon and right to exercise their right to vote and they have exercised this right to elect their representatives who will form a democratic and popular government in J&K after a long gap of 10 years .The significant voter turnout in the very first phase of polls shows that people of the UT have full faith in democracy and democracy is now thriving and kicking in that region which was in the past infamous for militancy and violence .This good and beyond expectation voter turnout points to the fact that this encouraging trend will continue in the remaining two phases of the polls on 25th September and 1ST October 2024 and this trend will further get an upward boost .The larger participation of voters in the polls is a challenge to militants and it is going to silence militants so that it is shown the door very soon .In all certainty and surety assembly elections and voters participations in large numbers and exercising the precious weapon of vote that is the ballot will definitely defeat bullets ,bombs ,mayhem and violence .In fact democracy is going on to triumph and the forces of doom will be defeated for good and interest of J&K people .The successful completion of the first phase of the assembly polls peacefully in itself is a big development for Jammu and Kashmir and it sounds a death kneel to the militancy and bullets which were reining supreme just few months back in the UT .The significant voter turnout shows that militancy in the troubled region is in wane and larger and active participation and involvement of the people in the first phase of the historical polls is enough to conclude that ballot and democracy has triumphed or in other words it means that ballot has defeated bullet in Jammu and Kashmir and with this significant political development the militancy will be shown door and will be given good bye and the UT will be saved from the jaws of militants and once again democracy is flourishing in Jammu and Kashmir .Higher participation of the voters in the first phase of assembly polls is the answer to the foreign powers which are supporting and exporting terror in Jammu and Kashmir .It is so good that people of J&K have once again trusted democracy as they have voted in large numbers to elect their representatives for the purpose of forming and giving to themselves a democratic and popular as well as people’s government and thus gave a death blow to militancy .In short it can be opined that finally in J&K ,people have defeated bullet by using ballot and this is in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir .Let the GOI and all stakeholders build new Jammu and Kashmir so that peace ,prosperity and stability will fast return to this part of India .The voluntary participation of voters in the first phase of assembly elections is no less than a referendum by the people that they are giving a stamp of approval for their full integration with the Indian union .It is hoped that this momentum of higher voter turnout will continue in the remaining two phases of the elections and give a strong message to the forces of doom to beware and not indulge in mayhem in Jammu and Kashmir.
(The author is a columnist,social and KP activist)
