AS 2022 draws is about to draw to an end, there is no sign that J&K is any closer to holding Assembly election. It is still not known whether polls will be held early next year. Many observers in Kashmir are hoping that the elections may take place by April-May. Things on this score, however, are likely to get clearer in the weeks to come. More so, probably after the outcome of the elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh which, as of now, the BJP is expected to win.
Meanwhile, people in Kashmir are eagerly waiting for the elections, as the exercise is expected to lead to restoration of statehood. No less than union home minister Amit Shah has made it clear that the statehood of J&K would be restored only after elections are held and a representative government is formed. There have so far been no signs that the centre is reviewing its policy. Return of statehood also makes eminent sense from the centre’s point of view. It seems that the union government wants to first see how the future elected government would look like and what its political and governance priorities would be including its approach to the issue of the revocation of Article 370. Also, it is as yet unclear if the centre would be inclined to restore complete statehood or a truncated one on the pattern of Delhi.
One thing is clear, though: The J&K statehood seems subordinate to the circumstances thrown up by a future elected UT government. The centre, as appears obvious, doesn’t want its decision to undo Article 370 to be in any way challenged by an Assembly dominated by the parties that have a contrary view on the issue.
J&K has not had an elected government since June 2018 when Governor’s rule was imposed after the PDP-led coalition government lost its majority following the withdrawal of support by the BJP. The last four years have witnessed a drastic political makeover of the state-turned-union territory, so much so that in many aspects, the current J&K bears little resemblance to what it was pre-August 2019.
For now, we can only hope that the elections, whenever they are held, will pave the way for statehood. It is expected that a government led or influenced by the BJP could lead to statehood than a non-BJP government. But, for now, this is all in the future. All we can hope for now is that the elections are announced earlier than later, and April-May will be an ideal time considering it will be spring.
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