The voting for the fifth phase of the 18th Lok Sabha Elections 2024 concluded in 49 constituencies across India, including the Baramulla seat in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (May 20). According to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) data, the constituency witnessed record-breaking 58.17 per cent voter turnout. In the 2009 parliamentary polls, the seat saw a turnout of over 41 per cent. Later in the 2014 and 2019 polls, the turnout plunged to 39.13 per cent and 34.57 per cent respectively. After the abrogation of Article 370, the rise in voters' participation has been evident. In the last phase, Srinagar recorded the highest voter turnout of 38.49 per cent since 1996.
Nonetheless, Baramulla constituency not only breached the 1996 record of 46.65 per cent but also registered the best voter turnout in last 40 years of parliamentary elections history in the constituency.
There are 18 Assembly constituencies under the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. The main candidates in the constituency are Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir People Conference (JKPC) leader Sajad Gani Lone, Independent candidate Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party's (JKPDP) Mir Mohammad Fayaz. Lone and Engineer Rashid were the MLAs from the Handwara and Langate constituencies in the last Assembly.
Assembly-wise voter turnout in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency:
- Bandipora - 56.13 per cent
- Baramulla - 52.15 per cent
- Beerwah - 58.80 per cent
- Budgam - 52.00 per cent
- Gulmarg - 54.45 per cent
- Gurez - 39.77 per cent
- Handwara - 72.04 per cent
- Karnah - 56.65 per cent
- Kupwara - 55.68 per cent
- Langate - 60.08 per cent
- Lolab - 55.72 per cent
- Pattan - 60.01 per cent
- Rafiabad - 54.69 per cent
- Sonawari - 58.64 per cent
- Sopore - 40.10 per cent
- Trehgam - 57.31 per cent
- Uri - 62.94 per cent
- Wagoora-kreeri - 49.77 per cent
Baramulla voting percentage in Lok Sabha polls:
- 2019: 34.57%
- 2014: 39.13%
- 2009: 41.84%
- 2004: 35.65%
- 1999: 27.79%
- 1998: 41.94%
- 1996: 46.65%
