India-Controlled Kashmir Votes in Historic Local Elections as Foreign Diplomats Observe

Residents in Indian-controlled Kashmir participated in the second phase of local government elections on September 25, with a turnout of about 55%, Associated Press reported yesterday.

This marks the first vote since the Indian government revoked the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019. Approximately 2.6 million residents were eligible to vote for 26 candidates across six districts. Notably, foreign diplomats from 15 countries were invited to observe the elections.

This is the first time India has allowed foreign diplomats to witness voting in Kashmir, following similar invitations for other events. The ongoing election process encompasses three phases, with over 9 million voters eligible to choose members for the region’s 90-seat legislature. Unlike previous elections, separatists did not boycott, with some activists running as independent candidates. Main political parties, including the Congress and National Conference, campaigned on promises to restore statehood and address issues like unemployment and inflation.