Engineer Rashid’s Victory: Turning Point in Kashmir Politics

“Rashid’s presence in Parliament is likely to shake the status quo making the voices of the Kashmiri people heard and bringing their concerns to the forefront of the political agenda”

Altaf Hussain Wani*

The results of the Lok Sabha elections have surprised the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), which had expected a landslide victory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The exit polls had also predicted a big win for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Modi had triggered euphoria by aiming for 400 seats in the 543-seat parliament, but he fell short of a simple majority.

A look at the results of four seats in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh shows that the voters have rejected the BJP’s policies. The party had not fielded its candidates in three seats in Kashmir Valley but had fielded its proxies. Most of them lost their deposit.

People voted against the regime’s policies and its authoritarian move to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which had earlier guaranteed special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The overwhelming victory of imprisoned Kashmiri politician Engineer Abdul Rashid from the Baramulla-Kupwara constituency is particularly significant. Rashid, a former MLA and a prominent political figure from North Kashmir has long been a vocal critic of the Indian government’s policies in the region. His pro-freedom stance has earned him a strong following among the youth and disenfranchised communities, especially after he was arrested and detained under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2019.

Rashid’s surprise victory from Tihar Jail is an eye-opener not only for Indian politicians but also for politicians in the region, who are unfortunately known to play opportunistic politics and compromise their integrity in favour of their vested interests.

His victory in Kashmir is rightly seen as an expression of widespread public opposition to the revocation of the semi-autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir. Secondly, the defeat of former chief minister Omar Abdullah and People’s Conference (PC) chief Sajjad Lone in the Baramulla constituency is a clear expression of the unprecedented public discontent with New Delhi and its rejection of proxy politics.

It is also an example of the indomitable character of Kashmiris, who refuse to give in despite all odds and their ability to articulate themselves whenever they have the opportunity. For years, Kashmiris were unable to openly express their displeasure with the BJP’s authoritarian approach due to relentless state repression.

After years of silence, Kashmiris have finally found a way to express their displeasure through the recent elections, in a subtle but effective manner.

Baramulla was perhaps the only parliamentary constituency where people had the opportunity to vote and make their voices heard and recognized. Had there been candidates from similar backgrounds in the Srinagar and Anantnag-Poonch constituencies, the results would have been totally different as well.

Nonetheless, while the Kashmir election results show a clear rejection of the BJP approach towards Kashmir, they also signal a significant shift in the Kashmiri political landscape, challenging the traditional mainstream parties and paving the way for a new Kashmir-centric political dynamic.

The dynamic shift in regional politics is seen as a significant setback for the BJP’s Kashmir policy for several reasons, for example:

1. Rejection of the BJP’s narrative: Rashid’s victory shows that the people of Kashmir have rejected the BJP’s narrative on Kashmir and its policies, including the abrogation of Article 370.
2. The BJP’s strategy has failed: The BJP had tried to divide the electorate by supporting surrogate candidates, but Rashid’s victory has thwarted their strategy.
3. Boost for the opposition: Rashid’s victory would be a morale booster for the opposition parties in Kashmir, which have been struggling to gain a foothold in the state.
4. Setback for the BJP’s expansion plans: The BJP, which had been trying to expand its presence in Kashmir, has suffered a major setback with Rashid’s victory.
5. Renewed focus on Kashmir issue: The victory of the jailed Kashmiri politician is likely to bring the Kashmir issue back into focus both nationally and internationally and increase pressure on the BJP government to resolve the issue through dialogue and reconciliation.
6. Rejection of pro-India policies: The defeat of the BJP’s proxy candidates also indicates a rejection of pro-India policies and a desire for a more independent or autonomous political stance.
7. Waning influence of traditional parties on the electorate: The defeat of traditional pro-India parties like the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has weakened their influence on Kashmiri politics.
8. Impact on New Delhi-Kashmir relations: The outcome could have an impact on New Delhi-Kashmir relations and possibly lead to a reassessment of the new government’s approach to the political landscape and governance in Kashmir.

Implications for Kashmir Politics

The weakening of the BJP in power could reduce its influence on state politics and policy making. This could lead to a change in the political landscape of the state and possibly lead to a more inclusive and representative government in the future.

On the other hand, Engineer Rashid’s electoral success signifies a dynamic shift in the politics of the region towards a more assertive and independent voice that challenges the status quo and champions the rights and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.

At the local level, this changing political dynamic is likely to encourage more independent voices to speak out and challenge pro-Indian politicians in the political arena. It could also lead to a rejection of traditional political parties that have failed to address the grievances of the Kashmiri people.

While Engineer Rashid’s victory has broken the status quo in Kashmir, it remains to be seen how well he will be able to navigate the complex political landscape of the region and deal with opposition from both the established parties and the Indian government. Despite these challenges, his victory represents an opportunity for Kashmir to assert its identity and push for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Rashid’s entry into the Indian Parliament will trigger a new round of debate and discussion on Kashmiri-related issues and open new opportunities for dialogue and engagement on Kashmir at national and international levels.

His presence in Parliament is likely to shake the status quo and push for greater autonomy for Kashmir, making the voices of the Kashmiri people heard and bringing their concerns to the forefront of the political agenda.

As he assumes his new role, all eyes of the Kashmiri nation, especially his voters and supporters, will be on him to see how skillfully he navigates the complex political landscape and works towards a peaceful and just resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

*The author is chairman of Islamabad-based think tank Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR). He can be contacted at @sultan1913.

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