Though not in control of the entire government machinery, since Jammu and Kashmir continues to be a union territory, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has picked up a cautious political line. This approach at the moment suits the interests of his government and the party. He is not doing anything, which can annoy his supporters in Kashmir, twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch and parts of Chenab Valley. Omar Abdullah is not also doing something which can displease the people in BJP’s stronghold in Jammu. In fact he is constantly sending signals that his government is for every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir-who voted for it, who voted against it or who did not vote at all.
The Chief Minister is engaged in a political outreach in Jammu with an assurance regarding unbiased governance and that his government’s decisions would not be influenced by political affiliations or party lines. This outreach can help his party in the coming municipal and panchayat elections there if some inroads are made.
So far as the relations with centre are concerned, the National Conference (NC) government is trying to avoid any unnecessary confrontation. Its main thrust is on its demand for the restoration of statehood. Laying stress on such a demand is not something which can be considered objectionable at the national level. The Supreme Court has already directed the centre to restore the statehood as soon as possible. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been repeatedly saying that central government is committed to restore statehood at an appropriate time. Nobody in Jammu and Kashmir knows when exactly that appropriate time will come.
Till the restoration of statehood, Omar Abdullah government will find its patience getting tested again and again on various fronts. Any signs of impatience or tiredness can prove counter productive for its interests. Keeping the flock together is equally important for the NC leadership. The new year, 2025, can be more tricky for the Omar Abdullah government. Tougher tasks can emerge for it.
The elected government will have to display high degree of patience, political understanding and maturity in governance besides keeping its promises, assurances and commitment made at the election time. Any level of mishandling can give a chance to the waiting Kashmir based opposition parties and BJP to bounce back and take the elected government head on. Right now, the opposition is yet to recover from the assembly polls related shocks. NC had almost decimated the opposition in Kashmir and stopped BJP from forming the government despite the saffron party sweeping polls in its stronghold belt in Jammu and bagging record number of seats there .
The assembly poll results have given an advantage to Omar Abdullah to hit Congress on national level issue whenever he likes to. Congress had started as a pre-poll alliance partner of NC but later could not find a place in the elected government. The party is supporting the government from outside. With the support of few independents, NC is having a majority in assembly even without Congress’ help.
This has given a free hand to Chief Minister to target Congress on various issues. Latest being he criticising Congress doubting the authenticity and credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Omar said that EVMs are fine for the Congress when the party wins elections and not fine when the party loses. The Chief Minister also advised Congress to work effectively for getting a lead role in the opposition’s I.N.D.I.A bloc and suggested to the party not to take the things for granted.
Congress not being part of J&K government is saving NC from unnecessary tension with the central government. BJP has got some kind of solace that while it itself could not form its own government in Jammu and Kashmir, the main national level opposition party too is not part of the government here. Congress could not create significant impact during the elections and it is not able to do so even now. Its local leaders are finding themselves helpless in countering the onslaught of Omar Abdullah against their party. May be they do not want to get involved in arguments with him on the issues of national level and create a bitterness at the J&K level.
As the 2024 is nearing its end and 2025 is about to begin, it is the time for the NC government to get into serious work. Much depends upon its quantity and quality of functioning. The elected government will have to deliver wherever there is a scope for doing so. Repeatedly saying that they are not fully empowered, will not do.
The people who voted for the NC know that what its government can do and what not in the present scenario. But if the government fails to do what it can do on the pretext that they are not being allowed to do, can hit the political interests of NC in future. Mere changing of the academic session should not remain the main highlight of the achievements of the elected government for long. Surely, the people have given five long years to the new government to deliver and keep its promises but making a serious beginning on some important issues is equally imperative for it.
