Voter turnout in India's election has been low, but it's surging in Kashmir

Voters in the Indian Kashmir city of Srinagar turned out in large numbers in the first elections since the Himalayan region’s semi-autonomy was removed in 2019.

SRINAGAR, India — Voters in the main Indian Kashmir city of Srinagar turned out in large numbers in national elections on Monday, reversing the trend of abysmally low vote counts in the first polls since Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019.

Srinagar is the first of the Himalayan region’s three seats to vote, and saw a turnout of almost 36% until 5 p.m., according to the Election Commission — more than double the 14.43% recorded in the last polls in 2019 but lower than the national average of about 62%.

Roiled by a 35-year insurgency against Indian rule that has killed tens of thousands, the turnout in past elections was also impacted by boycott calls and threats of militant attacks.

With Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) skipping elections in Kashmir for the first time since 1996, saying it will support regional parties instead, the main players are the National Conference and People’s Democratic Party which have focused on restoration of semi-autonomy in their campaigns.

Kashmir is disputed between India, which rules the populous Kashmir Valley and the Hindu-dominated region of Jammu, and Pakistan, which controls a wedge of territory in the west. China holds a thinly populated high-altitude area in the north.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/india-election-kashmir-rcna152112

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