Srinagar: A delegation of diplomats from 16 countries, including the US, Norway and Singapore, on Wednesday observed the ongoing assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation visited polling stations in the Ompora area of Budgam district, followed by stops at Amira Kadal and SP College, Chinar Bagh, within the Lal Chowk constituency, officials said.
At the SP College, the delegates had the chance to visit a special pink polling station, managed entirely by women.
Several of these polling stations had witnessed very low voter turnout during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Akshay Labroo, who is also the District Election Officer, briefed the observers on the voting process during their visit to the polling station in Ompora.
The delegation comprised diplomats from Delhi-based missions of the US, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria and the Philippines, people familiar with the matter said.
Most of the embassies are represented by their Charge d’affaires and deputy chief of missions, they said.
Others are represented by political officers at minister-counselor and counselor ranks.
The US deputy Chief of the Mission in Delhi Jorgan K Andrews said the voting process looked healthy and democratic.
“It is great to see the enthusiasm; it’s great to see Kashmiris out voting after a pause for 10 years. We are very excited to see the results. It looks very healthy and very democratic,” Andrews told PTI Videos at a polling station here.
The US diplomat said the process here was similar to how it happens in his country.
“It is very comparable. In my country, we use schools as well for voting. So it looks very similar,” he added.
South Korea diplomat Sang Woo Lim liked the idea of Pink polling station, an initiative of the Election Commission of India where polling stations are managed by all-female staff.
“It is my first time here in Kashmir. I am happy to be here as a part of the MEA delegation. I see it is a beautiful place and people are very nice. It is special to witness how democracy works. This idea of a pink polling station is very ingenuous. It is a great way to attract more people to come to vote,” Lim added.
Singapore deputy head of the mission in Delhi Cheng Wei Wei Alice said it was wonderful to be part of the delegation observing the polls here.
“I am glad that all the voters showed up. That’s wonderful to see. The process is very similar to how we conduct elections in Singapore. We use government buildings for polling stations so that it is easily accessible to voters,” she said.
Alice said the delegates were “very thankful to the MEA for organising this trip and allowing us to visit the polling stations”.
This is perhaps for the first time since the eruption of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir that foreign observers have been allowed to witness the elections. The earlier governments stoically dismissed any suggestion of allowing international observers into Jammu and Kashmir during polls.
The Centre invited the foreign delegates with the objective of showcasing the peaceful poll process and the good voter turnout that has been witnessed since the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.
