Srinagar: In a significant shift in the voter demographics of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Electoral Officer has confirmed the addition of over 93,000 new voters, primarily non-locals, to the electoral rolls as part of a broader strategy under the BJP-led government.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the updated electoral rolls now show a total of 88.03 lakh voters across the region, including 44.89 lakh males, 43.13 lakh females, and 168 third-gender voters, with changes finalized as of July 1, 2024. This revision follows a delimitation exercise that altered constituency boundaries and increased the number of assembly seats, particularly in the Hindu-majority Jammu region as opposed to the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley.

Critics have voiced concerns over these changes, suggesting they represent a strategic move by the BJP to cement its influence by altering the region’s political landscape. This includes granting voting rights to non-locals who have resided in the region for a minimum of one year, a policy that has sparked fears of demographic and political manipulation.

The forthcoming assembly elections are scheduled to occur in three phases, starting on September 18, amidst heightened scrutiny and debate over the potential impacts of these electoral modifications on the political representation of the Kashmir Valley.