Just two months prior to declaration of state assembly elections, on October 19, 2008, Jammu and Kashmir was in agitation. For over two months, in June to August 2008, masses of people came out in Kashmir to demand 'Azaadi' (freedom) from India. Militants silenced their guns in civilian areas. Simultaneously, in Hindu dominated three districts of Jammu region, namely; Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur, an agitation spearheaded by Hindu right-wing extremists declared a sort of war against Muslims by imposing economic blockade. By August 11, the Indian state proceeded to crack down on Kashmiris demanding freedom, but adopted a kid glove treatment for the Jammu based agitation. Strict curfew, i.e., with shoot-at-sight orders, was imposed, reminiscent of early 1990, protesters fired at resulting in loss of lives.

The Electoral Commission (EC) announced an unusually long seven phase election, spread over six weeks, from November 17 to December 24. Extraordinary measures were adopted. For instance, security forces deployment of 667,000 for counter-insurgency was augmented by 452 companies of central paramilitary forces (cpmf). Since each company comprises approximately 100 persons, nearly 50,000 more troops were deployed inside those constituencies where elections were to be held. The counter-insurgency grid remained intact. But areas where polls were to be held were cut off from rest of Kashmir by imposing, what is euphemistically called, informal curfew.