- Ever since the Union Government abrogated the contentious Article 370 governing the state of Jammu & Kashmir and subsequently created two Union Territories in the region, the people of the state and the local leadership were demanding holding elections. The Supreme Court also set the deadline for the Union Government to carry out elections in the region before 30th Duly obliging the push from the Apex Court, the Election Commission of India announced three-phase polling in the region which was completed peacefully recently. The free, fair, and peaceful polling must have come as a huge relief to the Union Government as well as the local administration amid sporadic terrorist attacks leading up to the big day.
PC: Supreme Court Observer
- Yes, forces inimical to the region’s interest and hell-bent on curtailing the democratic process to take effect did initiate terrorist attacks on innocent lives and target certain community members. The Pakistani establishment and its cohorts did foment trouble here resulting in the killing of civilians and security personnel. But the largely peaceful conduct of the elections unequivocally mirrors how the people of the region are looking forward to the democratic process taking effect sooner than later. Remarkably, that militant groups chose to participate in elections is a victory for democracy in itself. Thus, J&K completing its three-phase voting to the newly delimited 90-member legislature, with a good turnout, and without incident is most welcome for authorities.
- Held after a decade, this has been a wholly new election in very many ways. It’s the first since J&K was made a UT and its special status removed. Delimitation saw Jammu’s seats increase to 43 and Kashmir’s by 1 to 47, and 9 reserved for STs. It’s a measure of the far-reaching changes in J&K that fundamentalist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami had boycotted polls for decades and since being outlawed, returned to the electoral battleground. Its candidates contested as Independents on 33 Kashmir seats and 1 Jammu seat. UAPA accused Baramulla MP’s Lok Sabha win give his party a boost. Their collective presence has made it an altogether new battlefield for all established political parties in the region. A truly multipolar election.
PC: Kashmir Post
- The established parties like the NC, Congress, BJP, PDP, CPM, and the Independents contesting only reaffirm India’s electoral integrity in the altered reality of J&K. Moreover, extremist groups joining democratic processes to make their mark is a big plus proving yet again the power and appeal of constitutional democracy in a region that has witnessed conflict and insurgencies for too long. This phenomenon of insurgents joining the mainstream has been witnessed around the world lending credence to the process of democracy as a rightful measure to further people’s aspirations. Yes, democratic elections prove guns are not an option at all. Hopefully, the people of J&K will once again enjoy the fruits of democracy.
