Elections in Indian-run Kashmir will be hard-fought

Significance These will be the first assembly elections in the area since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status and statehood and divided the entity into two federally administered union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Impacts Curbing militancy will remain a major long-term challenge in the area. Modi’s government is unlikely to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood in the near term at least. Pakistan will continue to criticise India over its Kashmir policy.