Coming budget session politically important

The coming budget session of Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly will be very important politically also. The budget to be presented by the new elected government of National Conference (NC) will be closely watched and discussed. The budget session will also give more visibility to the ruling party, its allies and the opposition. Till now their visibility is not as strong as it should have been after the much awaited 2024 assembly polls. May be this is because only four months have passed since the new elected government took over. And secondly, the dual power system is operational in Jammu and Kashmir, which continues to be a union territory since 2019.

The National Conference (NC) government is still struggling to fit itself in the new governance system and may take some more time in doing so. At the same time the ruling party continues to raise the demand for statehood restoration. Opposition parties have  feebly started criticising the government on political and governance fronts. While this criticism is yet to create any impact but is likely to get louder on the floor of the house.

Opposition has a right to hold the government accountable on various issues in assembly and likewise government has a right to defend itself. The present assembly is different from the assemblies in past since J&K is not a state now. This is the first assembly of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The budget session is being held in the assembly after seven years. People have  expectations from the new government and the opposition also. The treasury and opposition benches have a greater responsibility this time and they have to rise above their party interests and find a common ground to work together for the betterment of the people  also. They would like to go by their respective parties' stands on various issues as well but the interests of the people and solution of their problems too have to get the importance. The precious time of the assembly should not be unnecessarily wasted in discussing non-issues. Frequent disruptions  affect the house proceedings. The assembly has to run smoothly so that the legislators do justice with their mandate and productive  business is done on the floor of the house. Opposition must make the government accountable and ensure that it delivers on its promises.  But unnecessary dragging of issues on petty party interests has to be avoided. The treasury benches too should take the opposition leaders seriously and the issues, raised by them regarding problems of the people have to be addressed. The government has to avoid outrightly rejecting the issues and problems, highlighted by opposition benches.

In last assembly polls, people showed faith in NC by voting it to power. Now it is the responsibility of the government to perform. NC is the oldest regional party which dominated the political scene for decades together. But in 2002 and 2014 assembly polls when the people felt that its government could not come upto to their expectations,  the party  had to lose the political power. This can happen again. The top leadership of NC is also aware about this fact. In Kashmir PDP was weak in 2024 assembly polls but as an opposition it is very much there and can consolidate its position if NC government is unable to keep its promises made with the people.

In 2024 assembly polls, BJP was very much sure to get the majority with the help of some like minded parties but this did not happen. NC made a clean sweep in Kashmir and also won seats in  Rajouri and Poonch districts and areas of Chenab Valley. Despite not achieving its objective in  last assembly election, BJP has not given up its efforts to have its government and its chief minister in Jammu and Kashmir in future. The party leaders continue to work in this direction. The leaders of the main opposition party in the assembly will have to understand this thing also that people in their stronghold in Jammu have voted for them to get their problems solved also. Their problems need solution. In every election it is the strong central BJP leadership which with its strong campaigning comes to the rescue of their Jammu unit. The local BJP  leaders too will have to learn to create an impact on their own and with their efforts. Besides  strong display of power in the assembly, they have to work on the ground with the people too for solution of their problems.

The Kashmir based opposition parties have almost lost touch with common people after the assembly polls. May be they were dejected with the election results and were not mentally prepared for the setbacks they received. Their MLAs may now like to make their strong presence felt in the coming assembly session.  The related visuals from assembly on social media can keep them visible for some time.  But it is ultimately the work on the ground they do for people which matters the most. If the MLAs forget their constituency voters after election, they get a beating in next poll. This keeps on happening most of the time. That is why the governments keep on changing.