Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party holds rally ahead of elections

Supporters of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) march down the street in the city of Pulwama, in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, chanting slogans ahead of the region’s first local elections since 2014, stalled since the central government in New Delhi brought the restive region under direct rule in 2019.

The Muslim-majority region has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and each side claims it in full.

Some see the polls as a critical step in returning the vote to the people to choose their leaders.