Handle with care

After taking over,  the new elected government will have to make a difference on the ground. The promises made with the people have to be kept. The change cannot be overnight but important initiatives are to be taken for the welfare and betterment of the masses. The functioning and the performance of the  elected government will be closely watched at various levels and  so will be its relations with the Raj Bhawan and the central government.

All the stakeholders have assured to work smoothly together. That way not only the people of Jammu and Kashmir will get benefitted, but the success achieved at democratic level will get further strengthened.

For last six years the leaders of various political parties while demanding assembly polls were talking about the disadvantages of the absence of an elected government. Now an elected government has been formed, it is time for the chief minister, his ministers and related government machinery to come upto the expectations of the people. People understand that right now the chief minister, his government and assembly are not that powerful as they used to be in the past, but they have to operate within their space seriously to address the issues of common masses on priority basis.

In  democracy the opposition plays an  important role in making  the government accountable before the people. BJP had worked very hard for last several years and taken every possible step to form its own government in J&K. But despite highest number of seats in Jammu region and highest vote share in J&K,  the party could not get the majority to form its own government. Its like minded parties and independents miserably failed in Kashmir to provide a helping hand to it. However,  BJP has emerged as a strong opposition and would make things tough for the government by raising issues. There is hardly any opposition in Kashmir. PDP has three MLAs, People's Conference one and Awami Ittihad Party one. The NC-Congress alliance swept the polls in the Valley. Omar Abdullah said his government will be the government of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. It is being hoped that every citizen and region is treated well and there is no discrimination or appeasement any time.

Being a chief minister is not something new for Omar Abdullah. Earlier,  he was the chief minister of NC-Congress coalition government in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2008 to 2014. At that time his government had the complete backing of  the UPA government headed by Congress at centre. But when the term of Omar Abdullah's government was nearing end, the BJP led NDA government replaced UPA government at centre after the 2014 parliamentary polls. Then after 2014 assembly elections, PDP- BJP coalition government took over in Jammu and Kashmir.

This time when  NC-Congress alliance got majority in assembly elections, some independent MLAs extended their support to NC. Getting the support of independent legislators from Jammu region was very important as Congress had won only seat from there. The party was expected to get some seats from the Hindu belt but it could not do so and BJP swept the polls there.

If willing or permitted Omar Abdullah government can act as bridge between central government and people in Jammu and Kashmir. Having cordial relations is important for the democracy, J&K people and for the country. Restoration of democratic set up must get reflected on the ground also. Lack of required powers must not be an excuse for the new government for not doing things which are in its jurisdiction. The problems being faced by people particularly youth must get immediate attention. Regarding NC's political agenda of restoration of Article 370 and 35-A, people know that similar such promises made in past regarding restoration of autonomy were never kept. Even Omar Abdullah recently said that expecting restoration of Article 370 by the present government, which abrogated it,  is unwise. He viewed that whenever there is change of government at centre, efforts for Article 370 restoration can succeed at that time. About restoration of statehood, Omar said his cabinet will pass a resolution and it will be forwarded to central government.

On the other hand BJP leaders say that rather than stressing on statehood, the new government should focus on development. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Home Minister Amit Shah Ji have themselves assured that the statehood will be restored at an appropriate time. When they have made the commitment what is the need for NC to press for statehood," said Tarun Chugh, National General Secretary ( Organisation) of the BJP.

Omar Abdullah described restoration of statehood a big challenge for his government. "Holding of assembly polls was a big challenge and winning it was a big challenge. And now restoration of the statehood is also a big challenge," he said.