Kashmir: Elections 2002: Implications for Politics of Separatism

The recent assembly election provides important insights into the political psyche of Kashmir today. In many ways, the current election can be seen as a reversal of 1987 assembly elections which by eroding the democratic space had become catalyst for extension of separatist politics. This election has brought about a change in the regime through the popular verdict and to that extent has become instrumental in providing a linkage between the people and the government. For a state known for its history of making and unmaking of governments at the behest of the centre it indeed has been a historic election.