With each passing day, the credibility of NC, which won the elections in Kashmir on the plank of restoring statehood and bringing back Article 370, is coming under threat.
NEW DELHI: More than four months after the National Conference (NC) secured a massive majority in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections last October, the former state still continues to fight for the restoration of statehood. Meanwhile, the power struggle between the Centre and the state continues to intensify, with the aspirations of the people being largely ignored.
Amid the ongoing tussle, a rare moment of camaraderie between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the 7 km all-weather Sonamarg tunnel last month set political circles abuzz.
The opposition quickly alleged that Omar Abdullah was softening his stance towards the BJP-led Centre, particularly after Modi reiterated his promise to restore statehood “at the appropriate time.” However, the ambiguity of the timeline has only intensified suspicions and frustrations among political players in the region.
Senior Kashmir-based leaders, speaking to The Sunday Guardian on the condition of anonymity, said that by keeping Jammu and Kashmir in limbo, the Centre is playing strategic and calculated games to undermine the authority of the National Conference.
“It’s been four months since the announcement
With each passing day, the credibility of the National Conference, which won the elections in Kashmir Valley on an anti-BJP platform and primarily focused on restoring statehood and bringing back Article 370, is now under threat. The impression that the NC is powerless is gaining prominence.
The stakes are high for the NC, which swept the elections in Kashmir Valley on an anti-BJP platform, securing 42 of the 90 seats. The BJP, on the other hand, dominated the Jammu region with 29 seats but failed to make inroads in the valley
Despite its electoral success, the NC now finds itself in a precarious position, as whispers grow that it may be powerless against the Centre’s overarching influence in the region.
Anyone familiar with Kashmir’s politics would not hesitate to claim that running a government in Kashmir cannot happen without the active involvement of the Centre, especially since the region lost its statehood and became a Union Territory.
A retired intelligence officer, who did not wish to be named, told The Sunday Guardian, “Kashmir has always been a centre of controversies, and governance in Kashmir has always been intertwined with power dynamics in Delhi. Given its unique status and history, no party can function independently without a working relationship with the Centre.”
Speculation is rife that NC patriarch Dr Farooq Abdullah is engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations with New Delhi, possibly paving the way for a future alignment with the BJP—provided key demands, including the restoration of statehood, are met. While the party vehemently denies such claims, the increased frequency of Farooq Abdullah’s visits to the national capital has raised eyebrows.
According to sources, Farooq Abdullah’s visits to New Delhi have increased significantly since October last year. Rumours suggest he is in active touch with the Centre, at a time when tensions between the NC and Congress, which entered into a pre-poll alliance, have increased.
The upcoming budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, scheduled for March 3, is expected to be a litmus test for the coalition. Delays in cabinet expansion have fuelled rumours that Congress may not join the government after all, creating an additional layer of uncertainty for the NC-led administration.
As political manoeuvring intensifies, the road ahead for the National Conference remains unclear.
Will it stand firm on its pre-election promises, or will it make strategic compromises in the larger interest of stability? For now, the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to wait, watching the unfolding drama as their aspirations hang in an uncertain direction.