IIOJK elections

Elections in IIOJK raise doubts, seen as a façade New Delhi to mask repression, with voters skeptical of real change

The elections currently underway in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) hold a peculiar significance. For the first time in over a decade, Kashmiris are being allowed to vote to elect their representatives, but under circumstances that raise more questions than answers. These elections are not a sign of progress or democracy flourishing. Instead, they are part of an attempt by New Delhi to mask its repression under the guise of a political process.

While the voter turnout in the first phase has been relatively decent, analysts are skeptical that the participation reflects any real support for the electoral process. Instead, many voters may be casting their ballots as a form of protest, using their vote to express resentment against the regime's repressive policies. Kashmiris already know that their vote has little power to change their political or social future. Instead, the region remains under the heavy hand of the central government, with little room for dissent or meaningful governance. Despite a relatively peaceful voting process and the absence of boycott calls, there is a palpable aura of unease as the elections are being conducted in a heavily controlled environment, with dissent tightly restricted. Thousands of Kashmiris remain in detention on flimsy terror charges, which is hardly the environment for a free and fair democratic exercise.

The BJP will, of course, spin these elections by calling it a sign of return to normalcy, hoping to show the world that democracy is alive and well in the region. But this is furthest from the truth. The true measure of these elections will be in the results - which will be available the next month - and how they are interpreted. If, as analysts insist, there is skepticism on voters' intentions, the eventual results could send a strong message of dissatisfaction to New Delhi. Regressive policies have alienated the Kashmiris for too long, and it is unlikely that this election will do much to change that or sway international perception. True resolution can only be sought through a tripartite dialogue with Pakistan.