GNV News, October 11, 2024

On October 8, 2024, the results of the first state assembly election in a decade held in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir were announced. Jammu and Kashmir refers to part of the territory in the Kashmir region, claimed by both India and Pakistan, that is under Indian control. This election was the first since Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy was revoked in 2019 and drew significant attention. The results showed that the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), which campaigns to restore autonomy, won 42 seats to become the largest party. The Indian National Congress, which allied with the NC, won 6 seats, giving the alliance 48 seats—more than half of the 90-seat assembly. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, garnered support in Jammu, where many Hindus live, winning 29 seats.

Since 1990, thousands have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir due to the activities of anti-government armed groups. In 2019, the federal government revoked its autonomy, after which the territory came to be governed by a governor and officials appointed by the Indian government; to suppress dissent, authorities employed harsh measures, including crackdowns and internet shutdowns, as part of hardline measures. It has been noted that this election also had aspects of a referendum on the series of developments since 2019. At the same time, it is also argued that restoring autonomy will be difficult because the federal government and the federally appointed lieutenant governor still hold significant powers and the state assembly’s authority is limited.

Learn more about the Kashmir region → “Who does ‘Kashmir’ belong to?“

Learn more about tensions between India and Pakistan → “Ongoing instability in India’s northeastern region“

People lining up at a polling station in Srinagar in the Kashmir region during India’s general elections in 2009 (Photo: Public.Resource.Org / Flickr [CC BY 2.0])