Decisions about IIOJK will remain in hands of Delhi, where Modi\u2019s govt can use its parliamentary majority
\n BARAMULLA
\nIndian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) was voting Tuesday in the third and final round of polls to elect its first government since the insurgency-wracked territory was brought under New Delhi\u2019s direct control.
\nHindu-nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s government cancelled IIOJK\u2019s partial autonomy in 2019, a sudden decision accompanied by mass arrests and a months-long communication blackout.
\nSince then the territory \u2014 which is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in full \u2014 has not had an elected government, and has been ruled instead by a federally appointed governor.
\nMore than half a million Indian troops are stationed around IIOJK and Tuesday\u2019s vote saw a heavy security presence, with rifle-toting soldiers seen guarding polling stations in Baramulla district.
\nA high unemployment rate and anger at the 2019 changes have animated campaigning, and local parties have promised to fight for the restoration of IIOJK\u2019s autonomy. \u201cI voted so that there is some relief for us. Modi doesn\u2019t agree with the views of Kashmiri people,\u201d Baramulla local Abdul Rahim Rah told AFP outside a polling station.
\nMore than 55% of eligible voters cast ballots in the first two rounds of the poll.
\nPrior elections saw lower turnouts after boycotts called by separatist groups, who have waged a decades-long insurgency demanding IIOJK\u2019s independence or its merger with neighbouring Pakistan.
\nTens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and rebels have been killed since the conflict began in 1989, including dozens this year. Islamabad controls a smaller portion of the mountainous territory, divided since the end of British colonial rule in 1947.
\nModi\u2019s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says the 2019 changes to the territory\u2019s governance have delivered a new era of peace to IIOJK and rapid economic growth.
\nThat is disputed by homegrown political parties in IIOJK, who say the accompanying security clampdown brought a drastic curtailment of civil liberties.
\nThe territory, officially titled \u201cJammu and Kashmir\u201d, is split.
\nOne part is the overwhelmingly Muslim Kashmir Valley. Another is Hindu-majority Jammu district in the south, geographically divided from the rest of IIOJK by mountains.
\nWhile the BJP has fielded candidates in all the constituencies of Jammu, it is contesting only about a third of the seats elsewhere.
\nRegardless of the outcome, key decisions about IIOJK\u2019s governance will remain in the hands of Delhi, where Modi\u2019s government can use its parliamentary majority to override any legislation passed by the 90-seat assembly.
\nResults will be announced on October 8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Decisions about IIOJK will remain in hands of Delhi, where Modi\u2019s govt can use its parliamentary majority BARAMULLA Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) was voting Tuesday in the third and final round of polls to elect its first government since the insurgency-wracked territory was brought under New Delhi\u2019s direct control. Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":434753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-434727","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n