BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF J&K

AS THE UT PREPARES FOR ITS FIRST ASSEMBLY POLL AFTER THE ABROGATION OF ART. 370, NC-CONGRESS COME TOGETHER TO MOUNT A CHALLENGE

- Moazum Mohammad

COME SEPTEMBER, JAMMU AND KASHMIR WILL SEE AN ASSEMBLY ELECTION AFTER A DECADE, giving hope to the people that they will finally see local representation in government decision-making. The polls for the 90 assembly seats of Jammu (43) and Kashmir (47) will be held in three phases, from September 18 to October 1. This will be the first assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370 and the downgrading of the erstwhile state to Union territory (UT) status in August 2019. J&K has been under direct central rule for over six years now, since June 2018.

In what is a positive sign, all the political parties are convinced about the process. The Lok Sabha election in June saw the National Conference (NC) and the BJP securing two seats each in Kashmir and Jammu, respectively (the fifth was won by Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid). The BJP had dominated the electoral turf in Jammu with over 24 per cent vote share in the general election, followed by the Congress (19.4 per cent). The NC (22.3 per cent) and the Peoples Democratic Party (8.5 per cent) held sway in the Valley.

The NC and Congress have now announced a tie-up, which is likely to upset the BJP's prospects. So much so, it spurred Union home minister Amit Shah into calling it an 'unholy alliance. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were in J&K for two days, beginning August 21, where they said that restoration of statehood is the party's priority, a comment that has drawn much public support. "This has never happened before," said Rahul. "Union territories have become states, but this is a first for a state becoming a UT. We are very clear...it is a priority for us that the people of J&K and Ladakh get their democratic rights back." The alliance almost didn't come through.