A 85-year-old man and his disabled son in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Monday, cast their votes in hopes of releasing their social welfare aid, which has been withheld for the past five months.
Speaking to Kashmir Life at Mantrigam polling station, Gulam Mohammad Gojar in a scorching hot day stood in a long queue, leaning on his stick for support said that their social welfare aid, which they had been receiving, was abruptly halted for the past five months, compelling them to cast their votes today in hopes of having it resumed.
“We have been knocking on officials’ doors for these past months, but our aid wasn’t resumed, leaving us in distress,” he said.
“I was receiving one thousand per month, while my disabled son, Gulam Hussan Gojar, was receiving more, which was our family’s only financial support. However, it was abruptly stopped without any reason, leaving both of us, father and son, in limbo,” he added.
“A few days ago, some leaders approached me for my vote. I informed them about our issue, and they assured me that if I vote in their favor, they will assist in resuming this social welfare aid. Today, I voted with that hope,” Gojar said.
Meanwhile, the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency has recorded 45.22 per cent voting in all its polling stations up to 3:00 pm.
At 3:00 PM, the polling report indicated varying turnout percentages across different constituencies in Bandipora district.
In 14-Sonawari, there were 31,306 male voters and 25,161 female voters, totaling 56,467 voters, constituting 46.55 percent of the total electorate.
Similarly, in 15-Bandipora, there were 30,441 male voters and 24,049 female voters, with a total of 54,490 voters, representing 46.86 percent of the total electorate.
In 16-Gurez, there were 4,389 male voters and 4,390 female voters, making the total voter count 8,779, accounting for 39.73 percent of the total electorate.
Cumulatively, across District Bandipora, the overall turnout stood at 46.11 percent.
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