First major election exercise in Kashmir after loss of autonomy
Polling took place Monday for a Srinagar parliamentary seat in Indian-occupied Kashmir, the first time after the government stripped the region of its autonomy five years ago.
The constituency features a three-way battle between regional parties — the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Apni Party.
India’s ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP and the opposition Congress have not fielded candidates for Kashmir Valley’s three parliamentary seats.
While the BJP is unofficially supporting Apni Party, Congress has put its weight behind the National Conference led by former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah.
Despite the region’s reduced representation in the Indian parliament — comprising three seats from Kashmir and two from Jammu — observers say the symbolic significance of these elections is profound.
Over the past 34 years of Kashmir’s anti-India movement, pro-freedom parties have been boycotting the elections.
But for the first time, these parties have not issued any call for boycott.
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