National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first government in the region since its special status was revoked in 2019. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath to Abdullah and five other National Conference lawmakers, including Sakina Masood, Javed Dar, Javed Rana, Surinder Choudhary, and Satish Sharma. This government represents the first administration in the Union Territory since its reorganization.
Interestingly, despite having allied with Omar Abdullah’s National Conference during the elections, the Congress has chosen not to participate in the government, opting instead to offer external support. The political ramifications of this decision are significant, and they reflect a broader shift in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
Congress’s Poor Performance In Elections
The Congress’s decision to sit out of the government may stem from its disappointing performance in the recent assembly elections. The National Conference and Congress had formed a coalition to contest the elections, with an alliance in place for 83 out of 90 seats. However, the Congress struggled to secure victories, winning only six seats. In contrast, the National Conference emerged as the dominant party, securing 42 seats and solidifying its position as the leading political force in the Union Territory.
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at the oath-taking ceremony of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
(Source: AICC) pic.twitter.com/GQFYpfPhGu
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2024
Throughout the election campaign, there were visible signs of disunity between the two allies. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah openly criticized the Congress for not putting in enough effort during the campaign. Despite this, top Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi campaigned in Jammu to try and bolster the party’s prospects. However, their efforts proved insufficient as the Congress failed to make a significant impact, particularly in the Jammu region, where it faced stiff competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
A Government Without Congress Participation
With the National Conference clearly outpacing the Congress in terms of seat share, the dynamics of the coalition have shifted. While Congress was initially seen as a potential partner in the government, its poor electoral showing has diminished its role. Omar Abdullah’s decision to form a government without Congress ministers signals that the National Conference feels confident in governing independently, without relying on Congress’s limited political clout in the state.
The Congress’s decision to support the government from outside rather than join it raises questions about the future of its influence in Jammu and Kashmir. By staying out of the government, the Congress seems to be positioning itself as a watchdog, likely to keep a critical eye on the National Conference’s governance while maintaining a working relationship.
Setbacks And Challenges For Congress
One of the main reasons for Congress’s electoral underperformance is the absence of a strong leadership figure in Jammu and Kashmir. The departure of veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad dealt a severe blow to the party’s prospects in the region. Azad, a prominent figure in the Congress with deep roots in Jammu and Kashmir, resigned from the party after completing his Rajya Sabha term and went on to form his own party. Although Azad’s new party did not secure many votes, his absence left a leadership vacuum in Congress, significantly weakening its influence in the state.
In the 2014 elections, Congress had managed to secure a double-digit seat count, but the recent elections saw the party reduced to just six seats. The loss of Ghulam Nabi Azad, combined with the party’s inability to make inroads in the Jammu region where it directly competed with the BJP, contributed to its poor performance.
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