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Kashmir: What’s at Stake as Elections Are Set to Kick Off

Kashmir Polls: The Indian government will have to take a considered view on doing more than statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Here's our take on what's at stake.

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Kashmir Polls

Kashmir Polls | The relative calm of Dal Lake in Srinagar belies the turbulence of politics in Jammu and Kashmir. | Isa Macouzet via Unsplash | Credits Unsplash Licence

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Kashmir Elections: A Test of Will and Democracy

Embarking on a mountain in Kashmir, while running a temperature, is a bad idea, especially when elections in India’s newest Union Territory are around the corner.

Kashmir has not had an elected government for five years during which time it was directly administered by the central government. 

But now that elections will be held in three phases – September 18, 25 and October 1, with counting of votes on October 4 – a different kind of fever has set in, signalling a degree of enthusiasm also felt during parliamentary polls this summer when the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) recorded 58.46 percent voter turnout.

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J&K goes to the polls against the backdrop of a recent Union Home Ministry amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act which grants the Delhi-appointed Lieutenant Governor (LG) authority over the bureaucracy, judiciary and the police. 

This move, in effect, enhanced the LG’s power over transfers and postings of all-India service officers, including those in the Indian Administrative Service and the police.

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It also only heightens the real fear that the election may yet prove to be an illusion.

There is little doubt restoring statehood to J&K should be top priority. 

However, in the event the Delhi state government model of central control is imposed on J&K, the larger purpose of the election will be defeated, which will give the people a justifiable reason to oppose Delhi’s policies. 

Such an ominous development will present Pakistan an opportunity to fish in troubled waters. 

During their electoral campaigns across J&K, leaders of various political parties have made no secret of repeatedly raising the issue of statehood.

The Election Commission’s decision to go ahead with the polls without being cowed by the adverse security situation in the Jammu region is encouraging.

After all, past elections, such as those in 1995 and 2001, were held in even more precarious circumstances with reasonably high levels of militant attacks, violation of ceasefire conditions along the Line of Control and the consequent actions by security forces. 

Voter Turnout

The most crucial driver, among a set of other factors, for announcing the September-October election schedule was the respectable voter turnout in the parliamentary elections

Despite the gerrymandering of constituencies by the Indian government, aimed at reducing the number of seats in the Kashmir Valley and raising them in the Jammu region, the election this time is expected to generate considerable enthusiasm. 

The people of J&K have been yearning for representation and have shown they are eager for some level of self-determination.

The Delhi model of governance has shown that constant friction between the legislature and the centre-appointed Lieutenant Governor would defeat the purpose in J&K. 

Should this happen, the degree of frustration and unmet expectations will have to be borne by all at a time when the security forces are already stretched thin on the Chinese, Myanmar and Bangladesh borders, as well as in Manipur.

The Kashmiri awaam (populace) which in the past often braved violence and boycott calls by separatists and militants, has historically looked forward to various types of elections.

More importantly, as in the rest of India, electoral participation in the lower levels of polls has been greater since elected representatives are more intimately connected to the people. 

Local elections, especially in Jammu and Kashmir’s villages, have seen voter turnout as high as 80 percent. By this measure, the assembly polls will likely witness participation greater than what was during the parliamentary polls.

Going Beyond the Obvious

However, holding elections and restoring statehood is merely an initial step towards fulfilling the democratic aspirations of a society. Much ground nee

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