Time to Abrogate Bitterness

The National Conference's win in the recent assembly elections is a mandate for transformation, not celebration

- Ramiz Bhat

THE recent Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) electoral verdict is a moment not for celebration, but for deep reflection-particularly for the political leadership in Kashmir, and most notably for the National Conference (NC). If the electoral success is interpreted solely as a win for the party, with the focus shifting towards rewarding loyal supporters, it would mark a grave miscalculation. The people of J&K, especially in the Kashmir region, are not simply looking for political victorsthey are yearning for a government that truly engages with their realities and addresses their concerns. Years of governance by an unresponsive and distant bureaucracy have left them feeling abandoned, with no one to empathise with their daily struggles. This sense of alienation has significantly shaped the way people voted, but the election is not just a moment of frustration—it carries a much deeper political significance. The message from the people is clear, and it is now the NC’s responsibility to decode and align itself with that message.

This victory is not a vote of confidence in the NC as an institution, but rather a manifestation of a broader political movement—a “people’s politics” that transcends party lines. Many voters likely cast their ballots for the NC, not because of any longstanding allegiance, but because they saw it as the most viable platform through which they could express their political will. The leadership of the NC must now recognise this trust as a mandate for transformation and renewal.