NC-Cong win sparks fears of political marginalization for Jammu's Dogras

NC vows to heal Jammu-Kashmir rift, promises equal treatment for Hindus

JAMMU: The release of election results in Jammu and Kashmir has triggered intense speculation and debate about the political future of the region.
With the National Conference (NC) and Congress receiving a strong mandate to form the government, political analysts and critics are closely watching the possible ramifications.
While this combination may seem a logical outcome, there are concerns about its impact on the region’s delicate political balance, particularly in relation to Jammu’s Dogra community.
Critics argue that the NC-Congress coalition, which is heavily favored in the Kashmir Valley, could lead to a government that ignores the political aspirations of Jammu's Dogra heartland.
The Dogra community, which gave overwhelming support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), would be left with no significant representation in the new government. The BJP secured a massive 29 seats in Jammu, a clear mandate from its supporters, who had hoped to see their party in power.
However, with the BJP relegated to the opposition, some political observers suggest this could create discontent in Jammu, leading to political unrest or dissatisfaction. "The BJP sitting in opposition would extend uneasy churn to the people in Jammu who have given a massive mandate to the BJP, obviously to see the party in government,” commented one analyst.
On the flip side, while the NC-Congress coalition may succeed in forming the government, there are concerns about its ability to navigate its relationship with the BJP-led central government.
With NC winning 42 seats, its dominance in the Kashmir Valley is clear. However, the central government, led by the BJP, may not look favorably on an administration that is largely rooted in the opposition party's stronghold.
Critics have warned that any missteps by the NC-Congress coalition could lead to friction with the central government, which might complicate governance and hinder progress in the region. “Any miss from the government would invite the Centre’s ire,” noted another observer.
In a bid to assuage these concerns, NC leader Farooq Abdullah made a public statement aimed at reassuring the people of Jammu, particularly the Hindu community. Abdullah emphasized that his government’s goal would be to minimize the differences between the two regions of the Union Territory and to foster trust between the communities.
In what seemed to be a veiled reference to the BJP, Abdullah said, "We have to minimize the differences that they have created between Jammu and Kashmir. Our endeavor should be that the Hindus there have this confidence in us that we will think about them in the same manner as about Kashmir." He went on to emphasize that his government would not discriminate between Jammu and Kashmir, stating, "We will not differentiate between the two. So what if they did not vote for us? It is our duty to solve their problems."
Despite these assurances, another dimension of speculation arose regarding the possibility of an NC-BJP coalition. Such an alliance would ostensibly provide balanced representation to both the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
However, this idea was quickly dismissed, both during the election campaign and in post-election discussions. Analysts pointed out that the BJP would have been unlikely to accept such an arrangement, given its strong stance on Jammu’s distinct identity, and the NC, with its solid mandate from the Kashmir Valley, had no incentive to align itself with the BJP.
One analyst remarked, “After watching the fate of PDP, which was sent to political oblivion after its coalition with the BJP in 2014, NC would never risk a similar misadventure.”
The formation of the NC-Congress government in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be a complex and politically sensitive affair. While the alliance may enjoy a strong mandate in the Kashmir Valley, it faces significant challenges in addressing the concerns of Jammu’s Dogra community, which is left underrepresented in the new government.

Updated On 10/10/2024 1:51:23 AM