On Tuesday, India-administered Kashmir (IoK) held voting in the third and final round of polls to elect its first government since the territory was placed under New Delhi’s direct control. This change came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked IoK’s partial autonomy in 2019, a move that was accompanied by widespread arrests and a lengthy communication blackout.
Since that controversial decision, IoK has been governed by a federally appointed governor, lacking any elected representatives. The atmosphere surrounding the elections was tense, with over half a million Indian troops stationed in the region.
Voters in Baramulla district witnessed a heavy security presence, with armed soldiers stationed at polling places.
High unemployment rates and widespread dissatisfaction regarding the 2019 changes have fueled election campaigns, with local parties pledging to fight for the restoration of the region’s autonomy.
In the first two rounds of voting, more than 55 percent of eligible voters participated, though previous elections had lower turnouts due to boycotts from Kashmiri fighters advocating for self-determination.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claims that the 2019 governance changes have ushered in a new era of peace and economic growth in IoK.
However, this assertion is contested by local political parties, which argue that the accompanying security measures have severely curtailed civil liberties.
IoK is geographically divided, with the predominantly Muslim Kashmir Valley in one region and the Hindu-majority Jammu district in the south, separated by mountains.
While the BJP has candidates in all Jammu constituencies, it is contesting only about a third of the seats in the Kashmir Valley.
Regardless of the election outcome, significant governance decisions will remain under the control of Modi’s administration in New Delhi, where the parliamentary majority can override any legislation passed by the newly elected assembly.
