Jammu and Kashmir local elections: Separatists turn to mainstream politics

Voting continues in India’s contested province of Jammu and Kashmir, with the second phase of the election to renew the 90 seats of the legislature. This is the first vote since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked the region’s semi-autonomous status which guaranteed its own flag, constitution and statehood; downgrading Jammu and Kashmir from a state to a federal territory directly ruled by New Delhi. Kashmir, the most militarised zone in the world, is divided between India and Pakistan and is claimed in its entirety by both. Many Kashmiris have long supported the idea of an independent territory and have boycotted elections for years. But this election has seen a shift in separatist sentiments, with many public figures joining the political race. FRANCE 24’s Khansa Juned, Nabeel Ahmed and Sajjad Hameed report.