Article 370 Jammu & Kashmir Election
There had been apprehensions which had dragged on for some time. With the tally finally out for the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly election, the suspense is over and the CongressNC alliance takes a tight lead by grabbing 49 of the 90 seats.
With NC alone winning 42 seats, and Congress adding another 6, this victory sets the stage for what could be a significant shift in the political landscape of Jammu & Kashmir. But the bigger question remains: What will this mean for Article 370?
Reactions to the Election Results
The elections to the legislature in Jammu & Kashmir have taken place against the backdrop of the historic removal of Article 370 in 2019, stripping the state of its special autonomy. This election is, therefore, the first major electoral test after the move, and the results do suggest that the people may lean towards restoring that autonomy-an idea much advocated by the winning parties.
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah's reaction to the verdict seemed almost like an indirect comeback at the revocation of Article 370. He said the verdict seemed to convey that the decisions taken on August 5, 2019, did not find favour with the people of this region. The message from him and the NC was clear: people want things to go back the way they were.
The people have given their mandate clear enough. But more importantly, now it's to be seen how much influence this new government brings on the central government in revoking decisions related to Article 370.
Article 370 at the Center
Article 370 has been the defining issue in Jammu & Kashmir for decades. Before its repeal in 2019, this deal granted to the state had its autonomy level distinct in that it kept the political climate singular and drew international attention to the region.
In this election, both the NC and the Congress harped upon Article 370 in their campaigns. NC kept reiterating that they would fight to bring the Article back, while Congress focused on restoring full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir. They criticized the actions of the central government which, they say, took away empowerment and rights from people in the region.
The BJP-led government, rescinding Article 370, mainly campaigned with the narrative that how the rescinding of Article 370 has brought growth and peace to the region. He claimed the decline in instances of violence, especially the pelted stones, claimed that peace has returned to Kashmir in their rule. However, this did not strike the chord as much as the demand for autonomy and self-governance.
What's next for Article 370?
The people of Jammu & Kashmir haven't forgotten the more than legal change that Article 370 marks - it's an emotional and political symbol. NC and Congress now have a perfectly proper mandate to press for the restoration of Article 370, or at least to press for a significant rollback of the decisions of August 2019.
But changing the game on Article 370 won't come easy. The abrogation of the Article was BJP's victory and one which will not become easy to reverse-at least not the least at a national level. The central question now is: How hard will NC and Congress push, and how much are they able to achieve?
It now seems almost inevitable that the new government would goshalk its efforts to restore Article 370 in some form. Does not mean changes on Tuesday, though. The central government will want to maintain its firm stance, and a standoff between the government of Jammu & Kashmir and New Delhi looks all set to play out.
Pressure on the Central Government
The onus is now on the federal government. A victory for NC and Congress may potentially alter the discourses of politics in India. With this election, people of Jammu & Kashmir have echoed what they could think might not be the future central governments had envisioned. Will this victory lead to a long-term political struggle over Article 370 and the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir? Quite possibly. The BJP, more so with this decisive majority in the national legislature, is unlikely to give up easily. However, now that the voice of the people will be amplified through these election results, it would not come as a shock to see fresh debates on this issue soon.
Conclusion Actually, the victory of NC and Congress is much more than an election result. It's a very strong statement that the people of Jammu & Kashmir are making about autonomy, rights, and political identity. And while it remains quite uncertain how far this alliance can push the Article 370 issue, one thing stands clear: conversations about it are far from coming to rest. For now, it is all about the Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah-variety politician and the response of the central BJP government. We could be months away from anything concretely happening, but one thing is sure: political future of Jammu & Kashmir is tied to the legacy of Article 370, and this election has reignited that fight.
0 Comments