A Divided Electorate Casts Votes Amid Tight Security

The disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, under Indian administration, witnessed its first legislative elections in a decade on Wednesday. The polls, held under tight security, saw a voter turnout of just over 56%.

239 candidates contested for 26 assembly constituencies in this second phase of the three-phase elections. Over 2.5 million adults were eligible to cast their ballots.

The elections are being seen as a significant event, taking place after the Indian government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's limited autonomy in 2019, downgrading its status to a union territory.

Many locals view the elections as a battle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the people of Kashmir. They feel the government has systematically snatched away their rights over the past decade.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," said Ikhlaq Shah, a resident of Qamarwari. "I have boycotted elections ever since I became eligible to vote. Today I feel it's necessary to cast a vote and send a message to New Delhi."

Shah expressed disappointment that regional political parties, despite sharing the common goal of removing the BJP from Jammu and Kashmir, are competing against each other in the elections.

Political analyst Muzamil Maqbool believes the fragmentation of these parties is due to their leaders prioritizing personal interests. He predicts that none of them will win a majority in the J&K legislature, leading to a large coalition government after the October 2024 elections.

Voters are confused about the parties, who are accusing each other of being hidden allies of the BJP. Many wish the regional parties had agreed on seat-sharing to keep New Delhi's influence at bay.

Muzaffar Shah, vice president of the Awami National Conference, believes that if all regional parties worked together under the banner of the now-dissolved Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), it would have strengthened the movement of the local population.

Meanwhile, a 16-member delegation of foreign diplomats visited Kashmir at the invitation of the Indian government. Former Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, criticized the government for inviting foreign diplomats to observe the elections, questioning their interference in what the government claims is an internal matter.

The third and final phase of the J&K elections will take place on October 1.