Waheed Ur Rehman Para, the PDP’s Srinagar Lok Sabha candidate, deviated from the official party line and claimed that there had been a significant decline in violence in the former state during the last five years.
After casting a ballot at a Pulwama polling station, Para spoke to reporters and appeared to support the Center’s claim that the Valley had made progress: “Incidents of violence have significantly reduced over the last five years, with the government and administration playing a crucial role in restoring confidence among people to exercise their right to vote.”
Encouraging high voter turnout across the Union Territory (UT), Para emphasized the importance of participation, saying, “It has been five years since the 2019 general elections. Therefore, I urge people to come out in large numbers and choose their representative in the Lok Sabha.”
He further urged the people, media, and the Election Commission to ensure transparent and fair proceedings, stressing the positive engagement of first-time voters and calling on the administration to support democratic processes.
While not explicitly naming the UT administration, Para alleged attempts to disrupt and hinder democratic processes, noting the arrest of some party workers and polling agents during ongoing polling for the 18th Lok Sabha.
Polling is currently underway for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, marking the first elections in the former state since the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special constitutional privileges to Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, neither the BJP nor the Congress has fielded a candidate for the seat.
The UT has been under central rule since the collapse of the PDP-BJP government in June 2018, with the last assembly elections held in 2014. Polling for the Lok Sabha in Jammu and Kashmir is taking place over five phases.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP and the National Conference (NC) each secured three seats. Despite being allies in the Opposition bloc–INDIA, the PDP and NC opted to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently in Jammu and Kashmir.
Vote counting for the Lok Sabha in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere is scheduled for June 4.