India is known to host one of the largest democratic exercises in the world. By virtue of being one of the leading populous country of the globe, this laurel came with its fair share of obstacles. A country with 29 states and 7 union territories has had a long drawn history of land sharing disputes with its neighbouring countries. One of the pestering issues that has marred the history of this nation is Kashmir. Kashmir has been a point of dispute ever since the partition. Both countries with its divergent claims have sought international recognition for the issue many a times. The Abrogation of Article 370 has been a milestone in the history of Kashmir. But the prevalent irritants in the UT of Kashmir starting from a proxy war waged by Pakistan in the form of instigating armed militancy to an unstable political atmosphere has always posed a threat to the democratic exercise of voting.
The separatist claims of various stakeholders and the lack of consensus amongst the various political parties has exacerbated the situation. Although the state has a tremulous reputation for the conduct of elections, the stripping of statehood has created an aura of uncertainty taking into account the delimitation that has to be carried out before anymore elections can take place.
The international community has also been concerned about the developments happening in Kashmir owing to the geopolitical instability that may erupt. The recently concluded DDC elections can be considered a testimony to the fact that the people have reposed their faith in democracy notwithstanding the shortcomings of the recent past. Even at this stage, Kashmir is battling the menace of lack of basic amenities including erratic power supply, water shortage and lack of job opportunities. The traditional Kashmiri leaders affiliated with various organizations like Hurriyat and JEI still take a hardliner stance with proclivity towards our neighbouring Pakistan. In the light of such blatant disregard to the basic needs of the people and vouching for a cause that does not concern the common man has been a prime for the success of the recently concluded DDC elections.
Democracy in Kashmir although started off on a wrong note wherein the elections in 1951 were a failure with only two seats being contested. Looking back one can say with conviction that Kashmir has traversed a long distance in the realm of democracy and voting. The subsequent elections were not as bad as everyone thought it would be. The elections of 1957 followed by the elections in 1962 and so on. The number of uncontested seats kept reducing each time which was a ray of light for the nation builders. Until 1967 many constituencies did not even get a chance to vote. Voter turnout ceased to surpass 25 percent. Elections in Kashmir were never without some sort of turbulence. The lurking evil of militancy complemented by the ulterior motives of extremist Kashmiri leaders rekindled the past whenever an opportunity arose. The allegations of rigging in the 1987 elections served the purpose of an incubator for militancy to take the shape that it has achieved. This was capitulated by the inimical elements who shunned democracy and resorted to militancy. Misguided youth took up arms for a cause which even they were not aware of.
The elections of 2008 turned out be a flagship event with a voter turnout of a whopping 45.68 percent which the nation hailed as a victory for democracy even after the all parties Hurriyat conference called on Kashmiris to boycott the elections coining it as a futile process. This was followed by the 2014 elections which witnessed a voter turnout of 65.91 percent.
The trend points us in the direction of democracy emerging victorious albeit there were factions appealing to the public to boycott it. In 2018, Presidents Rule was imposed in J & K followed by the abrogation of Article 370 and converting it into a Union Territory. The UT is governed by the Lieutenant Governor. Elections in Kashmir have not just been the aspirations of the people but moreover a planned manipulation of the voter psyche by certain anti national factions backed by a belligerent Pakistan. The people of Kashmir yearn for peace which will come at an exorbitant price for the separatist elements. Democracy and voting has had multitudes of interpretations in Kashmir. The DDC elections has strengthened the roots of democracy. This should be considered as the inception of a new era. The fulfillment of people’s aspirations should not be an ephemeral election gimmick rather must be a stepping stone into the future.
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