The largely peaceable conclusion of the three-phase meeting elections in Jammu and Kashmir might be seen, in some ways, as a watershed occasion within the historical past of the area, no matter whether or not it offers a transparent mandate to a celebration, a pre-poll alliance, or ends in a hung meeting.
Let’s discover why these elections ought to be thought-about a reference level for analysing the evolving democratic course of and the aspirations of the individuals within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
First, the meeting polls, held after ten years, are the primary elections for the reason that abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and the primary following the delimitation of meeting segments, which was accomplished in 2022. That is additionally the primary meeting ballot since Independence in J&Ok that has reserved seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, thereby giving a voice to people from socially marginalised communities.
No Boycott, No Strikes
Extra notably, that is the primary election in a number of many years that has been concluded with out a boycott name, hartals, or any poll-related violence. And for the primary time in 77 years, Hindu refugees from Pakistan, together with West Pakistan Refugees (WPR), Valmikis and Gorkhas, voted within the election.
There was a realisation amongst all stakeholders that if one aspires to make their voice heard, the one approach is to change into a part of the democratic course of. The banned Jamaat-e-Islami fielding its candidates as independents is a testomony to this.
Second, if one had listened to the voices of most political events earlier than August 5, 2019, they’d have heard high-pitched rhetoric claiming that the abrogation of the “momentary” Article 370 was the BJP’s pipedream and that it might by no means be doable for any regime on the Centre-least of all of the Modi government-to take away the ‘Particular Standing’ granted to Jammu and Kashmir below India’s constitutional construction. However on August 5, this rhetoric was put to relaxation.
A New Manner Of Working
Apparently, one thing that was claimed to be synonymous with Kashmir, in addition to Kashmiri delight and id, was not a serious pre-poll narrative. Whereas the Nationwide Convention, in its manifesto, promised to battle politically for the restoration of Article 370 and the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, the PDP additionally spoke about resolving the Kashmir subject and resuming dialogue with Pakistan. Nevertheless, because the election marketing campaign progressed, it grew to become clear that this was not a difficulty that might emotionally sway the voters.
Third, the demand for the grant of statehood has emerged as a serious marketing campaign subject for the NC-Congress mix, the PDP, and others. The state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories in August 2019: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Centre has subsequently vested a number of crucial government powers within the Lieutenant Governor. The elected chief minister will now have truncated powers, a place considerably just like that of the chief ministers of Delhi and Puducherry. For Jammu & Kashmir leaders, this can be a brand new expertise.
Classes From The DDC Elections
Fourth, the Panchayat elections of 2014 and the District Growth Council (DDC) elections of 2020 launched a brand new aspirational political management on the grassroots degree, which was not essentially aligned with the three dominant events: the NC, PDP, and Congress within the Kashmir Valley. Because the Panchayat polls, which have been held with out occasion symbols, it has been troublesome to discern which occasion gained or misplaced on the bottom. Nevertheless, the DDC polls are an efficient indicator, as events contested with their election symbols.
The DDC elections have been held a 12 months after the annulment of Article 370 made an unbelievable state of affairs doable: arch-rivals NC and PDP got here collectively, together with 5 different smaller events, to type the Folks’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), popularly referred to as the Gupkar Alliance. Nevertheless, the outcomes have been shocking. The Gupkar alliance, which was anticipated to brush the polls, managed to win solely 110 seats out of the entire 278. The BJP emerged as the one largest occasion, profitable 75 seats, whereas Independents secured 50. This 12 months’s parliamentary elections shocked former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, each of whom misplaced.
A Slew Of New Names
Within the present meeting elections, a lot of new leaders try their luck as independents and candidates from smaller events. Whereas the end result can’t be predicted now, their presence has made the electoral course of extra fascinating than ever.
Fifth, the Nationwide Convention and Congress, which have been thought-about clear favourites when the election schedule was introduced, have considerably misplaced that preliminary momentum amidst the warmth and dirt of electioneering, at the least in response to floor studies. The PDP is not thought-about the pressure it as soon as was. The BJP appears to have gained floor within the Jammu area in comparison with what was anticipated a few month in the past.
The outcomes can be recognized on October 8, however one can not rule out a realignment of political events and teams within the aftermath of the outcomes.
(Sanjay Singh is Consulting Editor, EDNBOX)
Disclaimer: These are the non-public opinions of the creator