Life as usual on election day in Soibugh
Budgam, Nov 11:: Life in Soibugh and the adjoining areas of Budgam remained largely normal on election day, with people balancing their daily routines alongside their civic duty to vote.
The Budgam Assembly seat went to bypolls after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had won from both Ganderbal and Budgam in the last Assembly elections, chose to retain Ganderbal. Polling for the Budgam seat was held on Tuesday.
As voting began at 7 AM, residents started lining up outside polling stations to cast their votes. At the same time, others went about their usual routines — opening shops, setting up roadside stalls, and heading to work.
Public transport operated normally on Budgam roads, and polling areas witnessed only a modest presence of security personnel.
“There were no restrictions on movement outside polling stations. It’s the first time we’ve seen elections and daily life continuing side by side,” said Rameez Ahmad, a resident of Soibugh.
Areas including Soibugh, Wadwan, Bemina, and adjoining localities were abuzz with activity throughout the day. Shops stayed open, traffic moved freely, and the usual election-day tension seemed absent.
“In earlier elections, shops would stay shut and the roads would be deserted. But today, we are running our businesses and voting at the same time,” said a shopkeeper at Soibugh’s main chowk. “Laborers cast their votes in the morning before heading for work, and now shopkeepers are back behind their counters.”
Elderly citizens, government employees, and women voters were also seen participating steadily through the day.
Unlike previous elections, when security forces were deployed heavily across lanes and by-lanes, this time the deployment remained thin. “Earlier, Soibugh would be seen as sensitive, but now people are coming out to vote peacefully,” said Idrees Ahmad, a voter from Koolipora Bemina.
Another voter from Bunpora Soibugh said the village had often been unfairly labeled in the past. “People here have always participated in elections. Even today, relatives of Syed Salahudin were among those seen casting their votes,” he said, pointing towards the polling booth.
Movement of media personnel across polling areas remained unhindered, with journalists able to travel freely through various parts of the Budgam constituency.
