New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- Jammu & Kashmir held elections after a decade in September-October 2024 and for the first time following the 5th August 2019 abrogation of Article 370 (special status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir) and reorganization of the state into a union territory, which had made it subject to greater New Delhi control.

The October 2024 Jammu & Kashmir elections marked a shift in the Indian government's approach towards militant separatists from marginalization to electoral inclusion. While uncertainties remain over the inclusion of political extremists into the electoral fold, the results of the election decisively showcase a disjuncture in the political affiliation of Hindu and Muslims inhabiting the region. The geopoliti...