First Regional Elections in Jammu and Kashmir in a Decade

India will hold provincial elections in Jammu and Kashmir starting Sept. 18, marking the first regional polls in a decade and five years after its special autonomy was revoked. Nearly 9 million people are set to vote, with the Election Commission ensuring security in the historically volatile region.

India will hold provincial elections in the Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir from Sept. 18, the Election Commission announced on Friday. This will be the first regional poll in a decade and comes five years after New Delhi revoked the region's special autonomy. Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority region, has been a flashpoint in the decades-long animosity with Pakistan since the 1947 partition.

The larger Kashmir region is divided among India, Pakistan, and China. In 2019, the Modi government revoked the region's special status, splitting it into two federally-administered territories. The decision to hold elections follows a Supreme Court ruling rejecting challenges to this revocation and setting a deadline of Sept. 30 for provincial polls.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that nearly 9 million people are registered to vote for the 90-member legislative assembly. The election will be held in three phases, and ballots will be counted on Oct. 4. Modi contends that revoking the special status has brought stability and development to the region, with a marked increase in tourism and economic projects. Despite historical violence and insurgency, recent national parliamentary elections saw a high voter turnout in the territory.

(With inputs from agencies.)