India First regional elections in Indian Kashmir after ten years

For the first time in ten years, regional elections are being held in the Indian-controlled part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

It is also the first time since the former union state of Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its semi-autonomous status five years ago that the people there will be able to use their vote to decide the composition of a regional parliament. The first of three planned election phases began largely peacefully under heavy security precautions, reported the news portal "India Today". Indian broadcasters reported long queues outside the polling booths in the affected areas of what is now the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is predominantly Muslim.

Withdrawal of special status

The Indian part of Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - in 2019 under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and placed under the central government. In the Kashmir Valley, many residents are therefore still strongly opposed to the government in New Delhi.

Regional parties demanding the restoration of the special status of their region are also contesting the elections. Modi's Hindu nationalist party BJP rejects this. Through the X platform, Modi called on people in the area to vote in order to "strengthen the festival of democracy". Further dates for voting for the approximately nine million eligible voters are September 25 and October 1, with the votes to be counted on October 8.

Conflict region of Kashmir

Most of the Kashmir region is divided between India and Pakistan. Both nuclear powers have already fought two wars for control of the entire Himalayan valley. Pakistan had described the abolition of partial autonomy as illegal. A small part of Kashmir also belongs to China.

SDA