Elections in Jammu and Kashmir

[1][2] The first elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir took place between 28 November and 19 December 2020 in the form of by-elections to District Development Councils and municipal and panchayat level bodies.

But from 1996 onwards the vote share of Bharatiya Janata Party has increased in the parliamentary elections for the state, from 12.45% in 2008 to 23% in 2014 and to 25% in 2024.

The popularity of JKPDP and Congress has reduced over the years and their seats in the assembly are now in single digits.

In 1932, a Franchise Committee was set up to frame those who would vote as adult suffrage was considered impractical and unfeasible.

For women voters it was decided that those women who had passed middle school or higher could vote, while for males the criteria were broader and included village officials, religious representatives, retired or pensioned officers, lawyers, doctors, schoolmasters etc.

Under him the princely state was delimited, the election method was set up, and the population was made aware of the electoral process.

Coloured box or symbol system as suggested by the Lothian Committee in British India was utilized.

[18] In effect, the elected members chosen through the popular vote would be in the minority in the Legislative Assembly.

[27] On 24 June 2021, Prime Minister Modi met with political leaders from the region signaling a renewed effort with the delimitation process.

[5] The Delimitation Commission is chaired by retired Supreme Court of India Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.

[28] There are 280 District Development Council (DDC) seats in the union territory equally divided between the Jammu and Kashmir regions.

It also includes political parties which no longer exist: The state of Jammu and Kashmir has taken part in 12 general elections to the Lok Sabha of India.

Elections to these positions are based on universal adult franchise in electoral constituencies called wards.

[74] There was vast difference between voting turnout for the Urban Local Bodies, with Srinagar Municipal Corporation getting a poll percentage of 1.8% as compared to Ramgarh Municipal Committee getting a poll percentage of 82.6% in the third phase of voting.

[75] In certain wards such as Baghat Barzulla (Srinagar Municipal Corporation), out of a total of 11486 electors, only 61 votes were placed (0.53% voter turnout).

[76] On the other hand, wards such as Partap Garh (Jammu Municipal Corporation), out of 3583 electors, 2372 votes were placed (66.2% voter turnout).

[80] BJP for the first time in the electoral history of the state, won 60 seats unopposed, winning at least seven municipal committees in Kashmir valley.

[93] District Development Council elections the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir took place between 28 November and 19 December along with by-elections for other vacant posts in local bodies.

A voter coming out after casting his vote from a polling booth of Budgam during the 4th Phase of General Election 2009 on 7 May 2009. (The raised finger indicates the indelible ink from voting)
Voters in a queue at a polling booth near Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh, JK, during the 2009 Indian general election
Comparison between voter turnout trends (in percentages) for the elections to the Lok Sabha (House of the People) of India between 1967 and 2014 for Jammu & Kashmir and India. Jammu & Kashmir has had the lowest voter turnout for any state in India in 6 of the 12 Lok Sabha elections it has been a part of. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ]
Map of Jammu and Kashmir at the end of British Raj ( National Geographic , 1946)
Chairperson of Delimitation Commission, Retd. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai along with Union Minister Jitendra Singh at a meeting on the delimitation process of UT of JK, in February 2021.The Chief Election Commissioner , Sushil Chandra and others present.
Jammu and Kashmir union territory (J and K) is bordered in carmine colour. Ladakh union territory (L) is bordered in blue colour.
Old City, Srinagar