Srinagar, May 13 : In Srinagar’s Lok Sabha constituency, three generations of the Abdullah family participated in the voting process. National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah encouraged citizens to turn out in large numbers and exercise their franchise.
NC president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, accompanied by his son Omar Abdullah and grandsons Zahir and Zamir, who were first-time voters, cast their votes at the Burn Hall School polling station in Srinagar.
Expressing his thoughts on this significant moment, Omar Abdullah highlighted the unique occurrence of three generations of their family voting together, marking a historic moment for them.
This election marks the first time since 1998 that no member of the Abdullah family is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not participating in the elections in Kashmir, the party anticipates a shift in political dynamics in the Valley.
Supported by the INDIA bloc, the NC has fielded influential Shia leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has nominated its youth unit president Waheed Para.
Despite expectations of a head-to-head contest between Mehdi and Para, Mohammad Ashraf Mir from Apni Party and Amir Ahmad Bhat from DPAP are also in the fray, along with 20 other candidates, including two women.
After casting his vote, Omar Abdullah urged people to participate in the electoral process as a means to express their dissent against decisions made by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir. He referred to the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and emphasized the importance of democratic engagement in shaping the region’s future.
Omar Abdullah also raised concerns about alleged harassment of NC workers by the administration ahead of the polls, citing instances reported from various constituencies.
Farooq Abdullah echoed his son’s sentiments, expressing satisfaction with the conduct of elections but expressing regret over the detention of key political workers in the days leading up to the polls.
Despite these challenges, both Omar and Farooq Abdullah urged citizens to exercise their right to vote, emphasizing the importance of democratic participation in shaping the region’s future and holding the government accountable.
The presence of three generations of the Abdullah family casting their votes symbolizes a continuity of democratic engagement and highlights the significance of civic responsibility in the electoral process.
