More than one million residents are eligible to vote in the first stage of staggered elections in the Himalayan region.
Voting starts at 8am local time in 15 constituencies near the de-facto border that divides Kashmir along with the remote Ladakh region, home to mostly Buddhists, where temperatures have dropped to below freezing.
Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is staging a bold attempt to seize control of the Jammu and Kashmir state's 87-member assembly, a move that would have been unthinkable until very recently.
The party has traditionally had no base in the Kashmir Valley where residents' resentment against Indian rule runs high.
About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 for Kashmir's independence or for its merger with Pakistan. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the violence.
But Modi's landslide win at national elections in May and a meltdown in support for incumbent Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after deadly floods in September have given the BJP hope of a breakthrough.
Separatist hardliners have called for a boycott of the vote, a move that could play to the BJP's advantage. Hindus are a minority in Kashmir but their votes take on extra importance if many Muslims stay home in protest on polling day.
The BJP staged a media advertising campaign in the lead up to the election, with large banners on the highway running through the valley promising "peace and development".
But analysts said the BJP may have overplayed its hand, predicting the blitz would prompt anti-BJP voters to turn out rather than boycott.
"The BJP has always been very proactive in Kashmir, but the media blitzkrieg and the euphoria (this time around) could boomerang to the advantage of the regional parties," Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a political analyst who teaches at the Central University, told AFP.
Thousands of soldiers have been deployed in and around polling stations amid fears of street protests or militant attacks.
Most separatists have either been arrested or confined to their houses in the lead-up to the election, while police have also detained dozens of youths at stations in areas where voting will be held, a police officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Jammu and Kashmir will vote in five phases with results due on December 23.
The insurgency-wracked and impoverished central state of Jharkhand also heads to the polls Tuesday where the BJP is also attempting to seize power.
Army and police officers have been deployed in force at polling stations for the first phase of the election there amid fears of attacks from Maoists.
Rebels have long been fighting authorities for land, jobs and other rights for poor tribal groups in a conflict that has cost thousands of lives.
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@Virkaul: @ABHAI SHARM: Very well said and if this is so then why India doesn't conduct "plebiscite" in Occupied Kashmir instead of elections because thus Indian government can easily prove that Kashmiri people only want to affiliate with India and thus Kashmir's issue is resolved.If India is so confident and sure that Kashmiri people want to live with India then Indian government has to conduct plebiscite and has to give full opportunities to Kashmiri people for their fate's decision freely,fairly and transparently.......
@abreez: The trouble is you, your army and your leaders have only played chess all these 67 years with its people. Governance is not playing chess, Sir but requires vision, capability, belief in democratic institutions. Only if you could understand, you wouldn't be in the mess you are in.
Keep playing chess!
@Aschraful Makhlooq: Elections in India happen at regular interval unlike Pakistan and results of which are accepted by all parties inspite of adverse results. So far all transitions have been democratically smooth. Jammu & Kashmir is no exception. The valley has voted overwhelmingly in most constituencies except Sopore, Kupwara and Tral that reaffirms its faith in democratic process and the constitution of India. Who would want to join a failed state?
@Aschraful Makhlooq: Dramas in the name of elections happen in Pakistan, not India. We have a rock solid electoral procedure.Coming directly to the issue, If Pakistan wants to fire its nukes on India and get wiped out in turn, let it be so, Kashmir will be with India, forever.
@abreez: You are correct. If Jews can claim land that was their's 2500 years ago, you can claim land that was your's 250 years ago. By this logic, we can claim the land that is ours 67 years ago and by natural choice the land that was our's till your 251st year is also ours. If you can understand this fact, harmony will prevail.
"Faux elections". "Drama at gunpoint".
The elections are real. The only use of gun is to provide security, not to force anyone to vote. Turnout is high because some former separatists have actually joined the election this time.
You may not like it, but there is no point ignoring reality.
In any democratic country handful of people can create lots of noise and confusion.A few terrorist organisations in Pakistan have given such a bad name to the country though we know that people of Pakistan are peace loving. Similarly a handful of separatists along with terror groups are making hue and cry in J&K. The elections in Pakistan as well as in J&K have proved time and again that these organisations and people have no public support and backing. Huge turnouts in electoral voting have proved that even the guns and violence have failed to deter peace loving people and they have rejected their ideas.
In any democratic country handful of people can create lots of noise and confusion.A few terrorist organisations in Pakistan have given such a bad name to the country though we know that people of Pakistan are peace loving. Similarly a handful of separatists along with terror groups are making hue and cry in J&K. The elections in Pakistan as well as in J&K have proved time and again that these organisations and people have no public support and backing. Huge turnouts in electoral voting have proved that even the guns and violence have failed to deter peace loving people and they have rejected their ideas.
@ abreez Kashmiris have voted, more than 70%. It's an all time high voter turnout. Kashmir dosent want beggar Pakistan. Kashmiris want a good life, good jobs and development, which India is doing and will do even better than before. You people are brainless products of madrassah so you people are worthless. You don't understand a thing about world.
Just like I commented yesterday (see my comments above), 1st phase of polls in Kashmir went peacefully and the voter turnout was over 70%. It is a highest record turnout of voters in the last 27 years. It is a slap in the face of the negligible group of Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan. Voters by turning up to vote in huge numbers delivered their verdict to stay with Indian Union.
@Aschraful Makhlooq: Eat your words "minimal turn out" You must be shocked the turnout has been 72%. The people of Kashmir have given a slap on the face of the separatists.
@amazing:
Read the link properly. The stats are that of UK where neither Indians or Pakistanis are in majority and where the law is equal for all. In case you have reading difficulties here are some of the highlights: "Pakistani Muslims are three times more likely to be jobless than Hindus are. Indian Muslims are twice as likely to be unemployed than Indian Hindus are. " The above implies that Indian Muslims are doing better than Pakistani Muslims and Indian Hindus are doing better than Muslims in general. I wonder why that is? It has got nothing to do with Uttar Pradesh!!!!
@Iqbal: because majority of muslims are in Uttar pradesh, where all are living with less salary,money. but since Hindus are majority in other states, which brings their statistics above.
@abreez: And how is that related to election in Kashmir? Pointless facts stated to divert attention? Not working. BTW last I checked you also have lots of poverty its just that your record keepers don't say that. How can they say that if they cant survey those areas that are not under direct government control?
@abreez: Just like the way you captured East Pakistan (Bangladesh).. LOL
@abreez: And the house in which you live belongs to my forefathers. Please vacate.
@abreez:
Muslims have lowest living standard in India: Gov. Survey (TOI Aug. 20, 2013) I hope you know that the muslims of India and doing far better than muslims of Pakistan. Here is the proof: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/20/race.immigrationpolicy
@abreez: would appreciate if you can show these fig/ numbers for pakistan!!!! whatever you say or do- india is milesahead in all parameters of technology/ development/ progress / education/ military strength.
@abreez: Kashmir belonged to Pakistan 250 years ago? Really? It seems your historical textbooks are giving you wrong information because Pakistan is only 67 years old having been established in 1947. On the other hand Kashmir has been part of India as was Pakistan for thousands of years.
@abreez:
And the color of the shirt I wear is red. So, what's the point?
ET - you don't get it. Other than cut-copy-paste articles from AFP/ Reuters, do put in some analysis too. The result doesn't matter. Turnout does. While we in India have no doubts of the status of J&K, including the illegal occupation of PoK, a good turnout will be a resounding slap on the faces of our good neighbour as well as on the impotent, self-styled "leaders" Hurriyat, who don't have the guts to face an election. Article 370 is a side-show - good if it is abrogated, but India can live with it for a few years more. What is more important is development of the area, generating unemployment and ensuring that the terrorists being generously supported from across are eliminated.
@Bilal: "occupied Kashmir" King Hari Singh signed instrument of accession with india. Now can you tell me what documents you have to hold your side of land and then tell who's the actual occupier?
@Professor @Gp65 @Talking Point @Sanjeev @Gurion 97% Indian're living with $150 per Month. 40,000,000 living with $37 per month. 48,100,000 living with $60 per month. 15,100,000 living with $120 per month. 6,000,000 living with $150 per month. Muslims have lowest living standard in India: Gov. Survey (TOI Aug. 20, 2013) This time we’ll wait and not hurry, we’ll give Modi or any future government an opportunity to play chess with fifteen pawns.
@abreez: Pakistan existed 250 years back ? And claim w/o the power to enforce it is useless.
@RHS BJP has made it clear it doesn't want to change article 370. It however wants a genuine " debate on the issue in state" though. PDP will win in kashmir and BJP in Jammu,Ladakh as far as opinion polls prediction. Both parties are going to come together to form a govt.
@Bilal: Should it would be indian occupied lahore, islamabad, rawalpindi- and yes- inshaalaah
@abreez:
Pakistani textbook effect....
Wow ... Tap on back @Express Tribune .... "Indian Kashmir" are you kidding me? it should have been Indian Occupied Kashmir ....
Pakistan press is more concerned about India (could see more news about india than pakistan)!. Ohh yess-- ppl do like to know about the rising sun.
Coming to Kashmir- once this election is done and dusted with record turnout, whatver balance claim Pakistan has, will not hold any good anymore. Process of integration with Indian Union will be completed (now US, Russia, UK, France all dont even talk about kashmir- an acknowledgement of the fact that its an internal matter of India)
Modi's goal is to eliminate Article 370 for which he needs a Kashmir election overwhelming majority. Things seem to be going his way these days in Washington. Let us see what happens in the Valley while Pakistanis busy with Dharnas...
@abreez:
FYKI, Pakistan didn't exist before 1947
@abreez: You are funny or devoid of any brain cells?
@abreez: That is if and only if you do not implode by then. For Pak even one if is tough , with two if's you would need a sniff of your prescibed anti hallucinaing medicine .Got it or should I send you one?
The voter turnout amongst muslims will also be high and probably the highest ever. Pakistan tried everything like falsely blaming India for neglecting Kashmiris during the recent floods, to LoC firings and everything failed.
Six months before the Indian general elections, I had predicted that Modi's BJP will win and win big to form government on its own. I also predicted at that time that within his first five year term will be successful in abrogating Article 370.
@abreez: "If Jews can claim the piece of land they had 2500 years ago then why not Pakistani claim the lands they had 250 years ago. Indian must understand ‘now only Kashmir and after two decades whole Northern India."
Since you are giving an example please tell us who was living and ruling in present day Pakistan 2500 years ago? Secondly,Pakistan did not even exist 150 years back and Mughals ruled from Delhi not Lahore or Islamabad and was known as Shehnshah of Hindustan not of Pakistan. Hence, applying your logic to known facts would lead to conclusions quite different from the ones you are proposing.
Another Indian elections' drama on gunpoint in Disputed Kashmir is going to play against the Kashmiri people's will and in the last the whole world will see the nominal turnout of the elections in Disputed Kashmir.....
@abreez: Here's some news for you. Pakistan did not exist 200 years ago ! It has been Indian land for over 5000 years !! When was it EVER Pakistani land? Doesn't stop you from trying though.
If Jews can claim the piece of land they had 2500 years ago then why not Pakistani claim the lands they had 250 years ago. Indian must understand ‘now only Kashmir and after two decades whole Northern India.’
oh oh, brace yourselves. Here come the Kashmir comments. Express Tribune what have you done ... what ...have ...you ...done!
Hopefully the Kashmiri electorate will frustrate Modi's dream of burying the burning Kashmir issue in a faux ballot exercise. Once they do, Modi will have to snap out of his racist, nouveau riche reverie and come to his senses about finding a modus vivendi with Pakistan.