Ishtiyaq Kar

Srinagar, May 30 (KNS): Despite the official results of the Lok Sabha elections likely to be declared on Tuesday, June 4, political parties in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory are already preparing for celebrations, regardless of the outcomes.

The city unit of the National Conference (NC) is planning celebrations outside their party headquarters. “We are optimistic that our candidate will secure a decisive victory,” a senior NC leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, told KNS.

Another enthusiastic NC worker from Srinagar expressed, “I hope our candidate will emerge victorious. We will organize an even grander celebration than we did when Dr. Farooq Abdullah comfortably won the Srinagar parliamentary seat."

Contrastingly, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) workers and leaders are adopting a more cautious approach, choosing to wait until the results are officially out. "We will wait near the counting venues. We are confident of our candidate’s victory, and once the results are declared, we will celebrate accordingly," a PDP leader asserted, confident about the victory of PDP candidates, including Mehbooba Mufti.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which contested the Jammu and Udhampur seats, is also hopeful of a favorable outcome and has made plans for celebrations.
Other political parties, however, are keeping their plans under wraps, preferring to wait until the results are confirmed.
The counting will commence on Tuesday June 4, with results expected the same day.
Confident of increased business, firecracker vendors across the Union Territory have stocked up on extra supplies. "Anticipating huge celebrations by the winning party workers, I have stocked around 100 boxes of crackers worth 20 thousand," said a local vendor.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Officials have assured that elaborate security arrangements will be in place at all counting centers. "There will be a three-tier security cordon around the counting centers. The first line, manned by security forces, will be positioned 100 meters from the premises. The second line will surround the counting premises, and the third line will be deployed inside the counting halls," an official source stated.
Public servants on election duty, or individuals authorized by the Election Commission will be permitted to enter the counting centers. Counting will proceed simultaneously for all five seats: Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Anantnag, Rajouri and Baramullah. To prevent any untoward incidents, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC will be enforced at the counting centers.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) confirmed, "As per the ECI guidelines, all arrangements have been made for the Counting Day.The entire process will be monitored by General Observers, each accompanied by Micro Observers.

The outcomes of the six Lok Sabha seats in J&K are being keenly watched as they are considered a "semi-final" before the Assembly polls.

Previously, the BJP and the National Conference each won three Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Notable winners included NC president Farooq Abdullah and Union minister Jitendra Singh. An electoral upset in Anantnag saw former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti finishing third. The Udhampur seat saw BJP's Jitendra Singh win by a margin of 3.57 lakh votes, the highest margin of victory in J&K so far.

With anticipation and excitement running high, Tuesday promises to be a pivotal day in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS)