Article 370 was abolished on 5 August 2019.
In 2014, the state underwent yet another election, which marked the highest voter turnout in 25 years. This culminated in a coalition government, with Mufti Mohammed Sayeed of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) assuming leadership and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its partner. Following Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's demise, his daughter Mahbooba Mufti assumed office as the first woman Chief Minister of the state in April 2016. Under Mahbooba Mufti's leadership, the region faced significant acts of terrorism, mounting external and internal tensions.
In June 2018, the President's rule was enforced after the BJP withdrew its support from the Mufti government. Subsequently, on 5 August 2019, Article 370 was abolished via the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, leading to the division of the state into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh stand as living examples of a plural society within India. The regions exhibit diverse facets—be it religious, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, or tribal. These diversities also extend to political and developmental aspirations, which the recent Act sought to address and fulfill. |
