It took 77 years for Dev Raj, a Hindu elder in India-occupied Kashmir, to finally have the opportunity to vote in local elections. Raj expressed his gratitude by pledging to cast his vote for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming three-phased elections in the region.
The region, divided between India and Pakistan since 1947, is holding its first regional assembly election in a decade. Raj’s story reflects the complex historical legacy and shifting identities in the disputed Himalayan region.
Under Indian rule, Raj settled in Kashmir along with other Hindu families classified as “West Pakistan Refugees.” Despite being Indian citizens, they were previously unable to vote in local elections due to the region’s special semi-autonomous status.
The recent scrapping of those rules by Modi’s government allows these refugees to participate in the upcoming election. While some refugees express gratitude towards the BJP, others seek candidates who will help them secure land ownership.
As the region braces for the election, the voting choices of groups like the West Pakistan Refugees will play a role in shaping the political landscape and reflect the BJP’s efforts to garner support.
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