Kashmir Votes to Choose Its First Government Since 2019

Kashmir votes in its final round of elections to choose a government after years of direct rule from New Delhi. Results will be revealed on October 8, 2024.

India-administered Kashmir has started voting on Tuesday. This is the third and final round of elections to choose a government for the first time since 2019. Back then, the Indian government changed the rules for Kashmir.

In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government made a sudden decision. They took away Kashmir's special status, which let the region have some self-rule. 

This change led to many people being arrested and a long blackout of communication. Since then, Kashmir has been directly controlled by New Delhi. It has not had its own elected government. Instead, a governor appointed by the Indian government has been in charge.

Kashmir is a disputed area that both India and Pakistan claim. The region has faced many challenges, including high unemployment and anger about the changes in 2019. Local political parties are promising to fight for Kashmir’s rights. They want to bring back the freedoms that were taken away.

The elections have seen many people come out to vote. More than 55 percent of eligible voters participated in the first two rounds. 

This is better than past elections, which had low turnouts because some groups boycotted them. These groups have been fighting for Kashmir's independence or its joining with Pakistan for many years. Since the conflict began in 1989, many lives have been lost, including civilians, soldiers, and rebels. This year alone, dozens of people have died because of the ongoing violence.

Kashmir is divided into two main areas. One area is the mostly Muslim Kashmir Valley, while the other is the Hindu-majority Jammu district in the south. The two regions are separated by mountains. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Modi, has candidates in all the constituencies in Jammu. However, they are only running for about a third of the seats in the Kashmir Valley.

The BJP claims that the 2019 changes brought peace and quick growth to Kashmir. But many local political parties believe these changes caused a crackdown on people's rights and freedoms. They think the security rules have been too strict, making it hard for people to live normally.

After the elections, important decisions about Kashmir will still be made in New Delhi. The Modi government has a majority in parliament. This means they can change any laws passed by the new assembly in Kashmir, which has 90 seats.

The counting of votes will happen on October 8. This day will show who will lead Kashmir in the coming years. The elections are an important step for the people of Kashmir, who have waited for local governance since the big changes in 2019.