Srinagar, April 19 -- People on their part remain largely indifferent, making it challenging to gauge their partiality towards any party. It has now been ages since Kashmir has witnessed a visible wave in favour of any party or a politician. The parties have mostly won for the simple reason of being the default option for the voters.

That said, the ongoing polls remain crucial for Kashmir: they are the first major electoral exercise being held following the repeal of Article 370 in 2019. And over the past five years, Kashmir has more or less altered beyond recognition in almost every aspect. Mainstream politics has transformed too, with not just new political actors emerging on the scene but its frame of reference has also changed. Many ...