Ballot may win the day in Kashmir

URI: The poll fever in Kashmir is catching on, notwithstanding the anti-India sentiments or the poll-boycott call by militant and seperatist groups.
The change in people’s mood is evident from the huge turn- outs at election rallies. Sale of election-related materials is also on the rise.
Congress flags and cut-outs of Sonia Gandhi dominate Congress strongholds like Pattan and Uri.And even in Hurriyat bastion Srinagar, flags and posters depicting both Sonia and Omar Abdullah adorn various pockets.
In constituencies near the LoC— Uri, Kupwara, Baramulla and such localities — thousands thronged the rallies addressed by the National Conference’s Omar Abdullah.
At the government school ground in Uri, over 5000 people braved Pakistani shelling on Monday to listen to Omar and the NC candidate. The shells often fall in the school compound. Last year, about 10 people died in the shelling. Even in a remote village like Niru, of the Gurej assembly constituency, about a 1000 walked about 15 km to hear Omar.
His rallies were well attended in Kargil also. But it is not the NC only that draws attention. The rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehabooba Mufti, daughter of former minister Mufti Mohammed Syed, was attended by over a 2000-strong crowd.
The PDP meetings in Gulmarg where Mustafa Kamal — younger brother of Farooq Abdullah — is contesting, have also drawn huge crowds. So have the meetings of Kuka Parey’s Awami League in Sonawari.
But probably the biggest crowd-puller this time is the former People’s Conference leader Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Sofi.