Breaking Boundaries: ECI Pioneers Special Polling Stations for Kashmiri Migrants in Delhi, Jammu

Srinagar: To ensure that Kashmiri migrants residing in Delhi participate in the Lok Sabha elections on seats across Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken proactive measures. Special polling booths have been set up for the community at different locations in the capital, including the Kashmir Resident Commission on 5 PR Road, New Delhi, Kashmir Kissan Ghar BR-2 in Shalimar Bagh, Arwachin International Public School in Dilshad Garden, and GGSSS Paprawat in Najafgarh.
In a groundbreaking move, the Election Commission of India has mandated free transportation to and from these special booths for eligible Kashmiri migrants. This service ensures that voters can travel from their camps to their respective polling stations and back seamlessly. To further facilitate Kashmiri migrant voters, the office of AERO/ARO, Migrants, New Delhi, is operating efficiently during working hours at Pota Cabin 01 at JK House on 5-Prithvi Raj Road.
Additionally, a dedicated help desk has been set up to assist stakeholders in completing offline or online Form-M, Form 12-C, and other necessary documents. In a concerted effort to boost voter turnout among Kashmiri migrants, numerous awareness camps and meetings have been organized across Delhi and the NCR region. Block Level Officers (BLOs) are conducting door-to-door visits to educate and assist migrant voters. These initiatives have resulted in a significant increase in voter enrollment through Form-M and Form 12-C compared to the previous Lok Sabha elections. According to data provided by the AERO/ARO office, there have been 169 registered voters, along with 65 Form Ms and 4 Form 12-Cs received for the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency. Similarly, 480 voters have been registered, with 183 Form-Ms and 8 Form 12-Cs received for the Srinagar PC. Additionally, 95 voters have been registered, along with 40 Form Ms, for the Anantnag PC to date. The enthusiasm of Kashmiri migrants to participate in the upcoming elections is palpable, and a high voter turnout is anticipated during the Lok Sabha elections. In Jammu and Kashmir, the ECI has established 23 polling stations, including two auxiliary ones, for Kashmiri Pandit (KP) migrant voters in Jammu ahead of the Phase-4 elections. These polling stations adhere to ECI guidelines, which mandate setting up two stations for more than 1500 voters. Notably, over 13,000 Kashmiri Pandit voters are registered for the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency, set to cast their votes in 23 polling stations across different parts of Jammu. Furthermore, 473 postal ballots from Kashmiri Pandit voters residing across the country have been sent to the Returning Officer in Srinagar. The key contest for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat featured Aga Ruhullah Mehdi of the National Conference, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Muhammad Ashraf Mir of J&K Apni Party.