India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the main city in Himalayan Kashmir on Thursday to campaign for his party in the local election, the first such vote since New Delhi stripped the disputed region’s semi-autonomy in 2019.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the main city in Himalayan Kashmir to campaign for his party in the staggered local election in a first such vote since New Delhi stripped the disputed region’s semi-autonomy in 2019.

Eight constituencies in the Jammu region and 16 from the Kashmir Valley voted on the first phase of assembly elections. Two more rounds of voting remain.

With fresh faces emerging to challenge the traditional political powerhouses, the region’s political dynamics already appear to be changing.

After the elections to the State Legislative Assembly, the governor extends an invitation to the winning party or coalition which has secured the majority votes to form government. The MLAs of the party which has secured most votes end up deciding who will be the next CM. In the state Assembly elections, members are elected directly through voting.

PM Modi praised the historic voter turnout in J&K assembly polls, promising development and statehood, while criticizing dynastic politics in the region.