By Arshid Ahmad Malik
After the abrogation of Art 370,there has been a significant shift in the political landscape of J&K.The people of J&K were frustrated with the political process and the dynamics surrounding Article 370.This frustration could stem factors like lack of representation, unfulfilled promises and the contentious nature of Article 370 and the political divisions it had created.
Now the elections were indeed held in J&K after a significant gap.This election marked a notable milestone as it was the first Assembly Election in over a decade and the first since the territory’s special status was revoked on 5 Aug 2019.The people of J&K had indeed given a significant mandate to the J&K National Conference in these elections.The National Conference won 42 seats out of 90 in J&K Legislative Assembly making it the single largest party,even earlier in the Parliament Elections NC won two seats in Lok Sabha from Srinagar and Anantnag Constituency in J&K.
National Conference’s victory can be attributed to its promise to restore Article 370 and the region’s Statehood which was revoked on 05 Aug 2019.The Party’s manifesto also emphasized dialogue with Pakistan to address the Kashmir issue and repealing the post-2019 laws that adversely impacted the region’s autonomy.The people of J&K seem to have endorsed the NC’s vision for the region’s future.Furthermore,there were some bemused manifestoes for which people of J&K showed significant interest towards National Conference.
Providing Free Education till University level, creating one lakh jobs for youths, ensuring release of political prisoners, providing 12 free LPG cylinders to economically weaker sections and other luring guarantees were sufficient for the people of J&K to befool them.
It was because of these unreal manifestoes that we saw some notable losses for prominent leaders and political stalwarts of J&K from non-NC parties.
Now the question is that the party which had restoration of Article 370 in their manifesto before the Assembly Elections has failed comprehensively to talk about it.
Even the former RAW Chief AS Dulat claimed in his newly published book “The Chief Minister and the Spy” that veteran and former CM Farooq Abdullah supported the revocation of Article 370 which granted special status to J&K.
The book details a meeting between Abdullah,his son Umar and PM Narendra Modi days before the abrogation on Aug 5, 2019.Besides,the Umar led NC govt with their 42 MLA’s failed to talk about Waqf Bill there in the Assembly even their speaker Abdul Rahim Rather disallowed debate on it in the Assembly citing the Ammendment Bill as subjudice.
Moreover,the National Conference despite having substantial majority faces challenges in the Assembly to build consensus on resolution passage.
The National Conference Party’s failure to fulfill its promises and meet the aspirations of the people of J&K may impact it’s credibility and influence in J&K politics.
The Party’s ability to regain public trust will depend on its future actions and strategies.
The author has done Masters in Political Science from University of Kashmir and is currently by passion a Socio-Political Activist and Chairperson of Liberal Youth Club Soibugh. He can be reached at malik121arshid@gmail.com
