From the picturesque peaks of the Pir Panjal range to the hot and humid plains of Kathua, a rich tapestry of Gujars, Kashmiri Pandits and Dogars like Gujars, Kashmiri Pandits and Dogars are expected to cast their votes in the September 18 assembly elections in the Jammu region. ready for , 25 September and 1 October.

The political landscape has changed dramatically in the 10 years since the last election. The erstwhile state was reconstituted as a union territory in 2019, a move welcomed by some communities in the Jammu region as “recognizing their rights, and reducing the dominance of Kashmir in politics”. was

After delimitation in 2022, the Jammu region has increased from 37 to 43 assembly constituencies. The Kashmir region got one additional seat, taking the total to 47.

Several factors are at work in various regions and sub-regions of Jammu Division ahead of the assembly elections. Muslim-majority districts – Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch – are witnessing consolidation of the community vote bank. However, in Hindu-majority areas like Kathua, Samba and Jammu, the perceived benefits of Jammu and Kashmir’s relinquishment of special status five years ago gave way to fears of people from other states settling in these areas for business and jobs. is

Increasing terror attacks in the Jammu region, which was once relatively peaceful compared to the Kashmir Valley, is a new concern for the security forces. Additional units of the Central Reserve Police Force and Army have been deployed in remote and hilly areas to avoid any untoward incident during the elections. At least 40 security personnel have been killed in terrorist attacks and encounters in the last two years in the Jammu region alone.

For most homeless communities, the polls don’t offer much hope for the problems they’ve been highlighting for decades.

In 1947, about 32,000 families had to leave their homes in Pakistan-occupied J&K (PoJK). Shanti Devi, now 83, was six years old when tribal raiders attacked her village in Bhimbar (PoJK). She escaped the massacre and came to Rajouri along with her family members.

With only hazy memories and stories from her parents, she talks about the horror and trauma that people in her community witnessed. “Many of my relatives were killed. We were lucky,” she says.

Rajeev Chuni, head of SOS International, an organization representing the homeless, believes the new government should focus on the community. “Previous governments have never fulfilled their promises of reservation in jobs for our youth. Cash compensation has also not been fully fulfilled,” he says.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration recently decided to transfer land to displaced persons, granting ownership rights to those displaced in 1947, 1965 and 1971, as well as to displaced persons from West Pakistan. The vacated land was left behind by members of the Muslim community who migrated to Pakistan. Kashmiri Pandits who fled the Valley in 1989-90 and settled in Jammu are still waiting to return home. Community members say that all political parties have given them false hope of recovery in the valley. According to official figures, around 40,000 Hindu families who left the Valley due to terrorism are registered as refugees. The government had recruited over 4,000 migrant youth from KP in government jobs in the Valley under a special PM package. Targeted killing of minorities in 2022 shook these employees. Despite this, the majority of refugees living in Jammu want to return to their homes.

Panon Kashmir chairman Ajay Chiringu, who is demanding a separate UT in the Kashmir region, says all parties have betrayed the community. “Like the Congress, the BJP has failed to recognize that the ouster of KP from the Valley was not a simple exodus, but a forced eviction of a community based on their religious beliefs. Kashmiri Pandits have to understand that These parties have only used them for their political gain and they should vote freely.”

A set of homeless people have reason to be happy. West Pakistani immigrants who migrated in 1947 have got the right to vote in assembly elections after seven decades. While these refugees living along the border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts had the right to vote in the parliamentary elections, the previous governments of Jammu and Kashmir did not give them the right to vote in the assembly elections.

Lubha Ram Gandhi, head of the West Pakistani Refugee Association, says the assembly elections are like a festival for the community, which has been ignored by “successive Kashmir-centric” governments. “We have everything we fought for. From the right to buy land to applying for state government jobs, we got these rights after the abrogation of Article 370,” he adds.

Meanwhile, the conflict continues in the Pir Panjal range comprising Rajouri and Poonch districts. Ghalib Gujjar and Bakarwal, who already have Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, have been criticizing the Center for including the district’s hill-speaking people in the ST category earlier this year.

The BJP is also facing anger from the business community for suspending the ‘Durbar move’, the practice of moving the secretariat between Srinagar and Jammu twice a year. This brought many buyers of goods from the valley to the markets of Jammu. In 2021, the administration scrapped the 149-year-old custom, costing the exchequer millions.

Meanwhile, first-time voters hope the new government will work to create jobs so young people don’t have to leave. Vanshika, who is pursuing her LLB in Punjab, says that most of the educated youth do not have job opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir. “We are forced to move away from family to other states and adopt new cultures and ways. The new government should work on creating jobs,” she adds.

BJP’s strategy changes, to go it alone

The BJP, which had an unofficial alliance with his own party and the Democratic Progressive Party in the Lok Sabha elections, is fighting alone in the assembly polls. The ‘Alliance’ did not bring any positive results for the saffron party. While the BJP faced several protests by party workers over the distribution of tickets to turncoats who had recently joined the party, the Congress too faced an internal revolt following reports that many in the Jammu region The seats will be given to the National Conference under their alliance. . Later, it was decided that the NC would field its candidates on 51 seats, while the Congress would contest on 32 seats. J&K Panthers Party and CPI(M) will be given one seat each. There will be a friendly contest between NC and Congress on five seats – Sopore in Kashmir and Banhal, Bhaderwah, Doda and Nagrota in Jammu division.

Key issues

Restoration of statehood is a key electoral issue, especially for Kashmir-centric parties. BJP is raising the issue of radicalism and terrorism. Some other election issues include promises.

Free electricity units, regularization of contract workers and reservation

In jobs for local people.