Voter Boycott in Sonawari: Villagers Remain Disconnected from System

Residents of Kanyari village in the Sonawari assembly segment boycotted Tuesday's polls. Only one out of 514 eligible voters participated. Villagers feel dissociated from the system due to unfulfilled promises, especially concerning land for housing after the 2014 floods.

In a striking act of political dissent, the residents of Kanyari village in the Sonawari assembly segment boycotted the polls held on Tuesday. District Election Officer Manzoor Ahmad Qadri confirmed that only one out of over 500 eligible voters cast their ballot.

The Sonawari segment was one of 16 constituencies in three border districts—Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara—that took part in the third and final phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir. 'The residents of the Kanyari village feel dissociated with the system. They do not feel like being part of it. That's why they stayed away from polling,' Qadri said.

Despite Qadri's attempts to persuade the residents by highlighting the importance of the democratic process, the villagers remained unmoved. The long-standing demand for land promised after the 2014 floods remains unmet, fueling their sense of disconnection from the system.

(With inputs from agencies.)