‘Slightly demoted’ but having strong public mandate
Chief minister Omar Abdullah recently said that he has been slightly demoted. Addressing a function at Katra in presence of prime minister Narendra Modi he said he was the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir state in 2014 but now he is the chief minister of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Omar expressed the optimism that this demotion is corrected soon and the statehood restored.
Despite being “slightly demoted”, Omar Abdullah is the only chief minister in Jammu and Kashmir since 2002 assembly polls whose party (National Conference) got a strong public mandate ( majority in 2024 assembly elections) and which formed its own government. The support of some independent MLAs, some of whom also joined NC, too made it possible.
This mandate to NC was also respected by the central government, which had earlier ensured a free and fair assembly poll. Subsequently, BJP, which before the elections was intending to form to government and which got record number of seats in Jammu, was left with no option but to sit in opposition.
2002 assembly polls had changed the scenario of government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. No single party could get a majority in 2002, 2008 and 2014 assembly elections. Consequently, coalition governments were formed. In 2002, PDP and Congress formed a coalition government. The government could not complete its term as PDP pulled out in 2008. After the 2008 assembly elections, the NC-Congress coalition government was formed. Then after 2014 polls, PDP-BJP coalition government was formed but it collapsed as BJP withdrew the support in June 2018. However, 2024 assembly polls saw NC getting the majority and forming the government. The victory was unbelievable not only for its rival parties and political observers but for NC itself and its leadership. Only a few months before the assembly elections, Omar Abdullah had lost the important parliamentary polls. The shocking defeat was a major jolt for NC. Omar was reluctant to contest the assembly polls. He at that time used to say that chief minister of a union territory has curtailed powers. He also stated that he as the chief minister would not like to go to the Lieutenant Governor even for the appointment of a peon. However, later Omar contested the assembly polls from two constituencies and won.
The victory in assembly elections helped NC to prove its dominance on the political map of J&K. The party mainly contested against the central government’s decisions of August 5, 2019. The party during its election campaign promised to work for the restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir and the statehood. After forming the government the ruling party passed several resolutions in this connection also. However, the Kashmir based opposition parties are blaming the NC government for “sidelining the issue of Article 370 and Article 35-A and focussing only on restoration of statehood, which the central government has already promised.”
According to them, the elected government must not raise hue and cry over the transfer of some officers by Lieutenant Governor administration and rather it should focus on important issues of public importance. The NC leadership says that expecting restoration of Article 370 and 35-A from a central government, which has abrogated those, is not a realistic approach. According to them while the struggle for special status will continue, right now the restoration of complete statehood is imperative for the holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir.
The central government has not yet made it clear as to when exactly the statehood will be restored. The central government leadership has been saying that the statehood will be restored at an appropriate time but never disclosed when this appropriate time will come. So the wait continues. During the inauguration of Z-Morh Tunnel at Sonamarg in January, 2025 when Omar Abdullah raised the statehood issue, prime minister said that “ Modi keeps his promises.” However, he offered no comment during the recent Katra function when chief minister again mentioned about the statehood. But, the prime minister said that Pahalgam terror attack will not be allowed to disrupt the pace of development in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that any obstruction in the realisation of dreams and aspirations of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir would have to confront Modi first.
After the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor the scenario changed in J&K and rest of the country. The fate of statehood restoration is unknown even as the ruling party keeps on raising it. The issue regarding proposed J&K Transaction of Business Rules is also unresolved yet. The elected government has formed a draft of rules and forwarded it to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his approval. As per media reports the Raj Bhawan returned the draft to the elected government with the observation that it violates the J&K Re-organisation Act 2019. The reports added that the NC government sent again the draft of the business rules to LG administration saying those are not violating the Act.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah continues feeling “slightly demoted” in absence of the statehood but he is having a strong public mandate. Respecting the mandate is equally important for him as his government has to deliver on the promises made at the election time. Masses do realise that NC government cannot restore the special status and that statehood is not in its hands but there are other people’s problems which this government can address. Unnecessary wasting of time is not in the political interest of ruling party.
This can affect its credibility and political future. Till now the elected government has rightly avoided any confrontation with the centre and tried to work in cooperation and coordination with it. Unnecessary confrontation is neither in the interests of the two governments nor that of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. But the NC government will have to find out a way also to come upto the expectations of the people and solve their day to day problems and grievances. It is the public mandate which has made NC relevant again in J&K’s political power. This mandate needs to be taken care of by the NC government for future as well. The ruling party leaders say their government has made a beginning for solving the problems of people. Let this initiative gets momentum. Mere statements without significant action on ground prove counter productive.
Author is senior editor,
Greater Kashmir
