People’s Verdict in J & K

People of Jammu and Kashmir have given their verdict. There are many surprises as far as the poll outcome is concerned. Many stalwarts like BJP’s Ravinder Raina have lost the election. But at the same time the people have not disappointed the political parties both in Jammu and Kashmir. If the National Conference and Congress Alliance has managed to get 49 seats out of 90 Assembly constituencies then the BJP has secured 29 seats. With the PDP too being able to make its presence felt in the tally. The Rising Kashmir has been continuously reiterating in the editorials that there was a ground swell in the Kashmir valley for the restoration of the statehood and the nostalgia about the special status. With the neutralisation of Article 370 and 35 A there have been undercurrents that have converted into the verdict in favour of the National Conference.BJP has once again proved that it has a strong base in Jammu and this is clearly reflected in the people’s verdict. In spite of the continuous efforts to gain ground in the valley it has not been able to secure the foothold. But there is no denying the fact that the people in Kashmir have shown resonance with the policies of development being implemented by the Narendra Modi Government in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT).This has been proved many times when people have responded to the Prime Minister’s visits to Kashmir in particular and Jammu and Kashmir in general. When seen in totality it is clear that both the NC and the BJP have improved on their vote share.NC has made a tremendous come back and proved that its cadres are intact on the ground, having takers in the next generation voters. It proves the political axiom that the political parties that are based on socio-political moorings may show downward slope at times but there political future cannot be bleak. Its political philosophy has brought it to power despite the change in the political structure despite the neutralisation of Article 370 and 35A.Now it will have to deliver on the agenda to development as the ground is clear in terms of relative peace in Kashmir besides the keen involvement of the centre to bring at par with the national mainstream. It has to be seen as to what will be the political line of action of the National Conference –Congress combine when they take the reins of power in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP has done well by improving its vote share in Jammu and secured an all time high number of seats. It could have come closer to government formation if it could have made penetration in the valley. Its reluctance was visible when it did not field any candidate for the Lok Sabha. It could not field political heavy weights in Kashmir who could swing votes in its favour. But one thing is clear that it has maintained its monopoly in Jammu. If observed minutely this verdict is certainly showing polarisation between Jammu and Kashmir regions in terms of political preferences. The new entrants to the Assembly will have to ensure that this mandate empowering both NC and BJP in Kashmir and Jammu respectively to represent the people of the two regions is used for collaboration to work in synergy. Otherwise, if this mandate is allowed to work for the negation of each other in terms of policies then it will bring Jammu and Kashmir face to face with 2008 type destabilisation that pitted the two regions against each other. There is a need to address these fault lines .Now the things are quite better .As there is an even playing field. The reason being the level playing field after the mainstreaming of Jammu and Kashmir with the neutralisation of Article 370 and 35 A. It is difficult to expect that the two parties will abandon their political ideologies but for the overall well-being of the masses they will have to work on consensus. Both regions are aptly represented in the people’s verdict. It makes incumbent upon the alliance that will form the government and the party that will sit in the opposition to respect the mandate of the people by governing the UT with a sense of equitable development and sharing of the resources.