Assembly polls 2024: Growing momentum to remain unaffected

The growing momentum for assembly polls is not going to be affected despite the recent amendments in the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the subsequent criticism by most political parties to it. Whatever the parties say about the amendments, at the same time they are in a mood to make big preparations with great enthusiasm for the assembly elections. More than what was witnessed during the recent record breaking parliamentary ( Lok Sabha) polls. This is because the assembly polls are being held after 10 years and the parties are intending to fight tooth and nail and win. They do not want to leave any space for opponents. From the local bodies’ elections to parliamentary polls, every electoral exercise has become vital for the parties in J&K for their political survival. Assembly polls are highly important so the preparations too are being made extraordinary even after the recent developments.

Most political parties strongly reacted after the amendments were made to the J&K Reorganisation Act , 2019. They described it as a move to weaken the Chief Minister by reducing his powers and authority and empowering the Lieutenant Governor. While making the criticism the parties ensured that their poll related preparations are not hampered because of their statements. National Conference (NC) held the election manifesto committee meeting during which the suggestions given by the public were analysed. PDP also held a parliamentary polls review meeting and chalked out strategy for assembly elections with focus on north Kashmir. BJP, which supported the amendments, held series of meetings in Jammu during which fresh directions were given to party cadres for assembly polls. Some other parties also held meetings at their own level.

So, the tempo built up recently for assembly polls is gaining momentum. No party wants the amendments or the subsequent reaction to the amendments break this tempo or enthusiasm among the cadres. The leaders believe that this enthusiasm is important for their victory in polls. They feel that if the workers and supporters lose interest in preparing for polls this will prove counter productive for electoral interests. In a way the political leadership in Kashmir are walking a tightrope - Criticising the amendments on one side and also trying that their criticism should not dishearten their cadres on the other side.

After the amendments, more curiousity has developed among the political circles regarding who among the senior leaders would contest the assembly polls and who not. Before the parliamentary polls, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti had stated that they will not contest assembly polls as long as Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory. Both of them contested Lok Sabha polls and lost. After his defeat, Omar reiterated that he will not join the assembly electoral fray. Mehbooba remained silent. NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah had said in the past that he would contest the assembly elections but nothing is known yet about his latest intentions. He did not contest the parliamentary polls for health reasons.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), did not also contest Lok Sabha polls. Before that, he was in double minds whether to fight or not. When he announced to contest, he said he was doing so to get elected for the parliament and fight there for getting a strong Jammu and Kashmir state back. Azad ,quoting some media reports, had said that a weak and hollow statehood was being restored to J&K in future. Later, he said he would not contest Lok Sabha elections since his party wants his services in Jammu and Kashmir. DPAP candidates lost their security deposits in Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri constituencies. Same thing happened with the candidates of Apni Party in the same constituencies.

Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari recently appealed to all the political parties to jointly oppose the amendments in the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 and work together for getting back a strong state of Jammu and Kashmir. Senior CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami also favoured jointly opposing the amendments. Till now the major political parties have not responded to Bukhari’s call and preferred to ignore it. May be because they do not want Apni Party to take any political mileage. And secondly since it is the election time and if the parties joined hands, the people would want them to contest jointly the assembly polls also. But they are not ready for it. Going by what happened during the parliamentary polls, the parties would not like to come together again and then give explanations why they fought elections separately. NC and PDP despite being part of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and having contested together the District Development Council polls, fought Lok Sabha elections against each other. They later blamed each other for that. In view of the fate of PAGD, unity initiatives if made right now can lack credibility. The efforts in this direction would be merely symbolic for making statements and later fighting elections against each other.

Omar Abdullah in a recent post on X said that a strong mandate in assembly polls would be an answer to the recent amendments. He said that people in Kashmir and Jammu regions should be part of the strong mandate and efforts to get back a strong Jammu and Kashmir state. The traditional parties are trying to use the amendments against BJP in Jammu. They have started telling people that how a Chief Minister and his ministers are being weakened. They are doing so at a time when BJP has made its intentions clear to get absolute majority in polls, form the government and have its own Chief Minister. Some NC leaders while reacting to the posts of BJP leaders on social media are telling them that how weak they can be as ministers if they become so.

While reacting to Omar’s criticism to the amendments, BJP National General Secretary and party in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Tarun Chugh recently defended the Central Government measures. He described the amendments in the Act as a step towards further growth and development of J&K. Chugh added that the measures are aimed at strengthening democratic governance in the Union Territory , combat corruption, and ensure equitable development.

 Author is senior editor, Greater Kashmir