SRINAGAR: As counting of votes for 90 Assembly constituencies will begin in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday morning, a notable shift in focus has emerged among political parties. Many are prioritising the demand for the restoration of statehood, diverting attention from the immediate goal of forming a government.
Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), openly criticised Engineer Rasheed for allegedly playing into the BJP’s hands after Rasheed appealed political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to delay the government formation in the union territory in order to put pressure on the Centre for restoration of statehood.
Omar said, “The man goes to Delhi for 24 hours and comes back to play straight into the hands of the BJP. The BJP would prefer to maintain central rule in J&K if they are unable to form a government.” His comments reflect a growing concern among political leaders about the implications of government formation without addressing the pressing issue of statehood first.
The man goes to Delhi for 24 hours and comes back to play straight in to the hands of the BJP. The BJP would like nothing more than to extend central rule in J&K if they aren’t in a position to form a government. https://t.co/d2AK2r6Mjm
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 7, 2024
Omar’s reaction came in response to the statement made by Member of Parliament (MP) and former MLA Er Rasheed on Monday, where he said that whoever secures a majority in the upcoming elections should prioritise a collective push for statehood restoration.
“Restoration of statehood should be the foremost priority for any political party considering governance. I urge all parties to unite on this issue and send a clear message to the Centre: no government will be formed or supported until statehood is restored,” he asserted.
Echoing these sentiments, Waheed Para of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) expressed that an elected government would be meaningless without statehood. “Even if one party secures all the seats, the process is powerless. With law and order under the Lieutenant Governor’s control, meeting voters’ expectations will be impossible,” he said.
As election results near, the truth remains—there are no real winners. Even if one party secures all the seats, the process is powerless. As long as J&K stays a Union Territory, an elected government has little meaning.
With law and order under the Lt. Governor’s control and no…
— Waheed Para (@parawahid) October 5, 2024
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir joined the chorus, urging political parties to focus on statehood before contemplating government formation. “Political parties in JK should prioritise the restoration of statehood. Without it, the JK Assembly will be powerless,” he emphasised, highlighting that both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have previously promised statehood restoration.
In this shifting political landscape, statehood may emerge as the defining issue of the upcoming elections.
The first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014 were held over three phases.
Of the 90 seats in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region, 24 voted in the first phase, 26 in the second and 40 in the third.
The fate of 873 candidates, vying for a seat in the 90-member house, has been sealed and known by Tuesday evening.
The turnout was 63.45 per cent, less than the 65.52 percent recorded in the 2014 assembly elections.
With exit polls out hinting at a hung assembly for 90 seat jammu and kashmir, all eyes are now on the final results set to come in tomorrow.
