Baramulla Parliamentary constituency purportedly scripted a ‘change’ by recording an approximately 60 per cent voter turnout, the highest-ever poll percentage since 1996 on Monday.
Last time the highest polling percentage of 61.09 was recorded in the 1984 Lok Sabha polls in the same constituency. During the turmoil, the highest voter turnout of 46.65 percent was recorded during the 1996 Lok Sabha polls on the same seat.
This time the higher voter turnout has once again prompted the poll pundits to analyze the assembly segment-wise voter turnout before predicting the poll outcome.
After the polling process was completed the contesting candidates made tall claims and predicted huge victories for their parties.
The National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, contesting from the Baramulla Lok Sabha segment for the first time, claimed he was comfortably winning the Lok Sabha polls. Omar predicted the higher voter turnout has worked in his favor on ground zero.
Taunting his nearest rival Sajad Lone, who labeled Omar as a ‘tourist’ much to his chagrin during the entire campaign mode, Omar said after the entry of an Independent candidate Abdul Rashid Sheikh in the fray Sajad Lone was fighting to grab the runners-up slot. PDP candidate Fayaz Mir is coming on number four in the race.
In response after the polling concluded Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone announced, “Voters in the Baramulla scripted a change by stepping out in large numbers”. In an informal chat with a visiting media person Lone said, “I am very confident, Hopefully, we will win”.
Commenting on the higher voter turnout, Lone said, people have decided to come out. Staying in was always a disaster. Stepping out and scripting a change is better. Second, there was an anger vote as well.
Commenting on the tall claims made by the National Conference leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi that Omar is set to emerge victorious, Sajad Lone maintained, “I would not be surprised if NC would be taken aback on June 4”. “After a drought of a few decades, the voters are visibly seeing signs of change”, he added.