Jammu and Kashmir Prepares for Landmark Elections Amid Decade of Change

India plans to hold provincial elections in Jammu and Kashmir starting Sept. 18, the first regional polls since the revocation of its special autonomy in 2019. Nearly 9 million people are expected to vote, amidst a backdrop of long-standing tension with Pakistan and recent governmental efforts to boost the local economy.

India will hold provincial elections in Jammu and Kashmir from Sept. 18, marking the first regional polls in a decade and five years after New Delhi scrapped the region's special autonomy. India's Election Commission announced the dates on Friday.

Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority region, has been a focal point of 75 years of animosity with Pakistan since both nations gained independence in 1947. The area, divided between India, Pakistan, and China, lost its special status under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in 2019, which split the state into two federally-administered territories.

Nearly 9 million people are registered to vote for the 90-member legislative assembly. Modi claims his 2019 decision restored normalcy to the area, citing increased development and booming tourism. However, the region has a violent history of insurgency and low voter turnout in elections. Yet, a recent parliamentary election saw the highest turnout in 35 years, reflecting growing faith in the democratic process.