The defeat of former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, and the victory of the jailed Engineer Rashid in the parliament polls, came as contrary to expectations in Kashmir. It gave a certain hint of which way the political wind is blowing in the Valley.
Rashid’s win in the Baramulla constituency is particularly telling. Despite being incarcerated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, his victory against political stalwarts like Abdullah and the People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone speaks volumes about the electorate’s discontent with their politics. Garnering nearly 470,000 votes, Rashid’s victory wasn’t just a political win; it was a call for genuine representation and a rejection of the political timidity that has often characterized the region’s leadership.
It is true that sympathy wave played a role in Rashid’s triumph but that alone doesn’t explain it. Rashid, a two-time MLA from Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), has been in jail over the past five years. He was arrested by the NIA in the run up to the abrogation of Article 370 and charged under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA has accused Rashid of receiving money from Pakistan to fund separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. He has denied the charges.
But as his victory highlights, his supporters believe he has been unjustly targeted. The abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories in August 2019 was a significant turning point. And Rashid’s extended incarceration is being seen as a consequence of the rescinding of this constitutional provision. The verdict is a stark repudiation of how some politicians responded to these historic changes. Instead of robust advocacy for the people’s rights and dignity, many local leaders appeared complacent, further alienating their constituencies. The people’s choice shows a yearning for leaders who are unafraid to challenge the prevailing narrative and genuinely strive for their community’s rights and dignity.
In Srinagar, the choice was tough, with the both leaders Ruhullah Mehdi, who won, and Waheed Parra, who was earlier jailed, equally fitting the bill. Similarly in the Anantnag constituency, while the NC candidate Mian Altaf eventually secured the win, Mufti made a notable impact throughout the race. The BJP’s retention of seats in Udhampur and Jammu, despite perceived anti-incumbency, and the independent win in Ladakh by Haji Muhammad Haneefa, have more or less been along expected lines.
That said, the mandate in Kashmir is clear: people seek leaders who are not mere pawns in the larger political game but genuine advocates of their unique identity and rights.
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