By Suhail Khan
Sopore, a town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, has historically distanced itself from the electoral process, with residents boycotting elections for years. However, in the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the ground reality changed significantly, largely due to the dedicated efforts of two officers: the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sopore. They set records in both elections, displaying exceptional professionalism and becoming pivotal figures in the democratic process during these challenging times.
In the Lok Sabha elections, under the leadership of ADC S.A. Raina and SP Divya D., Sopore, once labeled ‘Chota Pakistan,’ witnessed a remarkable shift in voter participation. The turnout surged to an impressive 44.49%, the highest in three decades.
This achievement garnered accolades from P.K. Pole, the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lok Sabha elections proved to be a game changer for Sopore, breaking all previous records. An unprecedented number of voters participated, including women, relatives of active militants, and even members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)—a phenomenon unseen in decades. The polling percentage soared from a mere 4% in 2019 to 44% in lok sabha election.
This momentum carried into the Assembly elections, where the people engaged eagerly, treating the democratic process like a festival.
The dedication and hard work of the two key officers during the Assembly elections paid off, as a significant number of people in Sopore cast their votes—a rare occurrence in the past.
In the recently held Assembly elections, data available with The Web Story/The Varmul Post a total of 20 candidates contested for the Sopore Assembly seat, including National Confrence Irshad Rasool Kar, two-time winner Haji Abdul Rashid, AIP candidate Advocate Mursaleen, PDP’s Irfan Ali, among others.
During the campaign period, significant shifts occurred, particularly during rallies and on polling day. The outcome not only surprised the entire Sopore community but also made history, as Kar won by an astounding margin of 20,356 votes.
In a conversation with The Web Story/The Varmul Post, several prominent personalities of Sopore shared that peope voted this time to foster development and prosperity in Sopore. They expressed a strong desire for progress and improvement within their community.
Some intellectuals told The Web Story/The Varmul Post, “We voted to end our helplessness. We voted to secure the future of our youth. We yearn for lasting peace, and we hope our elected representative will work towards a beautiful, successful, developed, and peaceful Sopore constituency.”
The overall scenario created in Sopore deserves full credit to both town chiefs, who made these elections historic. Notably, in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, not a single village recorded zero polling; residents eagerly participated in the process, ultimately creating a momentous chapter in the town’s history.
