Jammu and Kashmir is heading for elections again after a gap of ten years. Polling for 90 assembly seats will be held on September 18, 25 and October 1. With the support of Pakistan, terrorists have been trying to disrupt law and order and commit violence in Jammu and Kashmir for years. Although the Indian Armed Forces have been able to suppress it to a large extent, terrorism has not completely subsided. Even in this situation, it can be hoped that the central government's efforts to restore democracy there will be successful. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are generally waiting for the return of democracy. The only thing opposing it is the terrorist organizations waging a covert war with the support of neighbouring countries.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, the vote percentage decreased at the national level, but it increased in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite calls from some terrorist organizations to abstain from voting, the people rejected it. It means people are waiting for the return of democracy. 58.46 percent polling was recorded there in the Lok Sabha elections. This is the highest turnout in the last 35 years. Moreover, the election process was completed without any other untoward incidents. Therefore, it can be assumed that there will be increased participation of the people in this upcoming assembly election. In the meantime, the security forces need to be very careful as terrorists may try to sabotage the elections through violence.
In 2019, the central government abrogated Article 370, which had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir. It was thought that there would be big protests against this, but there were none. Later the state status was abolished and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were divided into two Union Territories. In the Supreme Court case against this, the removal of the special status was upheld but it was ordered that the statehood should be returned and elections should be held before September 3. All the political parties of the state are giving collective support to the assembly elections. The decision to grant statehood to Jammu and Kashmir should also come from the central government after a democratic government comes to power there.
In the international arena, Pakistan has always highlighted Jammu and Kashmir as one of India's most insulting issues. Meanwhile, India has been telling the world that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that the problems there are caused by terrorist leaders who are hiding in Pakistan. Pakistan kept repeating that India was spreading lies! Finally, many of Pakistan's falsehoods collapsed when the United States killed Bin Laden in Abbottabad without Pakistan even knowing about it. The world was convinced that what India said was true. The machinations of the terrorists will fail if democracy returns in Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, they may try to sabotage the elections in the coming days. However, no terrorism can break that democratic wall if the people stand united.