Indian Kashmir Voters Participating in Historic Election amid Political Shifts

Voters in Indian-controlled Kashmir are heading to the polls from today to May 25 to elect members to the Indian parliament.

Over 1.7 million voters will determine the outcome for 24 candidates competing in the Srinagar constituency. This is part of India’s ongoing general elections, which began in late April and run through June.

The vote comes nearly five years after the Modi government stripped Kashmir of its semiautonomous status in 2019, dividing the region into two federally-ruled territories.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is not contesting the Kashmir elections, signaling ongoing discontent over the 2019 move.

Residents say the elections are important, as the Modi government has allegedly robbed the region of constitutionally-guaranteed rights.