Unprecedented Participation of Separatists in IIOJK Elections

Wisha Wahid

Unprecedented participation of separatists in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) elections has ringed alarm bells for the future of Kashmir. The optimistic view presents participation as a key political development, marked by success. On the other hand, some argue that it will lead to undermine the separatist goal and reduce it to merely a fight of governance.

The participation of separatists in IIOJK elections has ringed alarm bells, with some viewing it as a step toward undermining the separatist movement.

Arm rebellion was surging in the 1990s and 2000s through an influential socio-religious group, Jamaat-e-Islam, who had called for a boycott to protest against India’s heavy-handed rule in Kashmir. Ever since then, Kashmiris have been fighting for a boycott to sustain their demand. For three decades, Kashmir elections have been filled with electoral violence and manipulation. The elections were being held but under Indian supervision which put IOJK under the direct rule of India, justified by India through an argument of “victory over separatism.”

The roots of ongoing agitation in IIOJK are in the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on 5 August 2019. Article 370 ensured special status to IIOJK while Article 35A gave permanent residents employment and property rights. To gratify the Hindutva ideologies, the Modi government vandalized Kashmiri’s rights to jobs and lands and intended to turn the Muslim majority state into a Muslim minority.

In another eyebrow-raising judgment, the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict regarding Articles 370 and 35A directed the government to restore statehood in IIOJK by conducting elections in September. Following this verdict, this year’s elections are used through a different approach or a rare opportunity to challenge Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the people of IIOJK have started to promote their neglected voice to the parliament through the elections. This raises the question, will Kashmiris be able to get their rights or Articles 370 and 35A back through this election?

Modi’s government vandalized Kashmiri’s rights to jobs and lands, turning a Muslim-majority state into a Muslim minority for Hindutva ideologies.

Since the Modi government abrogated Articles 370 and 35A, no elections were held until the election in 2024. The number of seats in the Jammu region is 43, while Kashmir valley has 47 seats, making it 90 seats in total, which are being eyed by 13 major parties in current elections. The major political parties in Kashmir are the National Conference (NC) led by Omer Abdullah and the People Democratic Party (PDP) which Mehbooba Mufti leads. But the key player in this election or what makes this election unique is the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) run by Engineer Rashid, a tendentious politician, who has spent five years in jail due to an accusation in a terror case.

This is a major event as it is the first time in decades, that separatist leaders are contesting for several seats. Rashid’s presence in politics ignited when he accomplished victory in the 18th Lok Sabha elections despite the fact he was serving in jail. Will Engineer Rashid be able to protect the rights of Kashmiris, is debatable but he has strongly represented the voice of Kashmiris than Omer Abdullah has ever done in his political campaign. This election for him is not just to protect the rights of Kashmiris but also to achieve peace with dignity in the future.

The 2024 elections witnessed an increase in the participation of separatist and independent candidates such as Sayar Ahmad Reshi, Dr. Kalimullah Lone, Talat Majid, Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai, Mohammad Haneefa, Engineer Rashid, and Sugar Barkati, daughter of Sarjan Barkati who led the separatist campaign in South Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Farooq Ahmed Dar is also participating through the Samajwadi Party.

Engineer Rashid’s presence in the elections signifies a rare opportunity to represent Kashmiri voices, aiming for peace with dignity.

The participation of Kashmiri separatist leaders in the elections in IOJK has changed the historical boycott theme. Apparently, they have opted for elections to gain their rights which were snatched after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. Simultaneously, separatists’ participation has also raised many questions about the fate of IIOJK as their participation may add new dimensions to the Kashmir dispute.

Some quarters argue that the strategy of Kashmiri separatist leaders to participate in elections may benefit BJP’s stance more than that of Kashmiris because if Kashmiri separatist run an election it will mean they are admitting Indian authority in Kashmir which was the main purpose of the boycott in the first place. There is still a majority who believe that the Kashmir dispute will remain there despite such developments, which are to be resolved according to UN resolutions.

The author is an International Relations scholar, and is associated with the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).