Another electoral test for NC and BJP

Whenever to be held, the panchayat, municipal and block development council ( BDC) polls will be another test for the ruling National Conference (NC) and main opposition party, BJP, to prove their political supremacy in their respective strongholds. The elections are also important for other parties in Kashmir and Jammu, who were almost decimated in last assembly polls. They will have to strengthen themselves and show some visibility in the electoral arena.

The grassroots level democracy in the form of local bodies has become more significant and imperative as the elections for these institutions were held seriously at the government level since 2018. NC and PDP did not take part in these polls last time leaving the field wide open for others. After few years the two main parties in Kashmir felt that staying away from elections was a blunder and they publicly regretted it. NC and PDP later took the corrective measure and jointly contested the District Development Council (DDC) polls along with some other parties and tried to recover the abandoned political space. However, these parties separately contested the 2024 assembly polls. They became bitter political opponents again in the electoral process. NC dominated the scene in Kashmir, twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch and parts of Chenab Valley, and got the majority with the support of few independents and formed the government. BJP with its remarkable performance in its stronghold became the main opposition party even as its dream to get the majority and form the government could not come true.

Last assembly polls were fought by the political parties in an entirely different political scenario and pattern. These were the first elections after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories on August 5, 2019. In the polls NC emerged as a strong voice against these decisions and BJP a strong supporter. Their respective campaigns mainly revolved round the important developments. The subsequent election results also reflected the mood of the people on the ground.

Now the panchayat, municipal and BDC polls are being held in near future. These elections are different from the assembly polls. In local bodies elections mainly the local issues and problems get prominence. However, this time the political parties would again try to rake up the political issues which were raised in assembly polls too. NC would make efforts to start from where it had left in assembly polls and BJP too would attempt doing the same. The opposition parties aim to target the ruling party for what they call as “deviation from its important poll manifesto promises.” They have already launched a campaign in this connection in the ongoing budget session of the legislative assembly and outside. To what extent they would succeed or fail will become clear at election time. The performance of the NC government during these months will also come under scrutiny. NC leadership has been saying that their government is not able to deliver fully because of the dual power system prevailing in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir at present. However, they say the elected government has been taking some productive steps in the sectors, which are within its jurisdiction. According to them a serious beginning has been made to deliver on the promises. Chief minister Omar Abdullah has been repeatedly saying that his government has not been given the mandate by the people for five weeks or five months but for five years. “We have five years to fulfil our promises and we are very much serious about it. We will go to the people with our report card after five years. If they are not satisfied they can take us to task,” he has been stating.

Even as BJP could not get political power in assembly polls, but its role as main opposition party too would be under scanner in the coming panchayat, municipal and BDC elections- To what extent the party has been able to make the NC government accountable in assembly and outside. And to what extent is BJP able to get the problems and other issues of the people, who voted for it, solved. BJP in Jammu and Kashmir has always banked on its central leadership to campaign for it in assembly and parliamentary polls and help in winning the seats. The strong impact of the central leadership has proved fruitful for the party in a big way in its stronghold, Jammu. But for the local bodies elections the central leadership will not come to help J&K BJP. The local leaders will have to win these polls on their own.

Can Congress be able to have at least some kind of face saving in Jammu during local bodies’ elections. The party had half-heartedly fought the last assembly polls in Jammu and had almost surrendered before BJP much before the elections. Whatever presence Congress has in assembly it is from Kashmir and that too because of a pre-poll alliance with NC. Will the two parties have some kind of understanding again or not during panchayat, municipal and BDC elections, is to be seen.

Author is senior editor,

Greater Kashmir