The struggle for statehood in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is no longer just a governance issue but a high-stakes power play between regional aspirations and the central authority.
More than five years after the abrogation of Article 370, the promise of restoring statehood remains a dangling carrot strategically used by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to consolidate its influence in the region.
While the Central Government has assured the Supreme Court and Parliament that J&K will regain its statehood, the silence on a clear timeline speaks volumes. The delay is not only bureaucratic, but also political.
By keeping J&K in limbo, the BJP is playing a calculated game and ensuring that regional parties like the National Conference (NC) struggle to regain a foothold.
For decades, the NC has been the dominant force in J&K politics, championing autonomy and the aspirations of the region. Following the political vacuum created in 2019, the party sought to reclaim its position as the leading voice for statehood.
Under the leadership of Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, the NC positioned itself as the main opposition to the BJP’s centralisation drive and offered hope to those disillusioned by the loss of special status.
NC's election manifesto promises
In its election manifesto for 2023, the NC made bold promises: the reinstatement of Article 370, the repeal of the Public Safety Act, facilitating the return of Kashmiri Pandits, job creation and even free travel for women and free LPG cylinders for the underprivileged. But more than a year later, the party has little to show of these promises.
The only visible step has been the formation of a committee on reservations — an effort sparked by protests outside Omar Abdullah’s residence, which was also attended by NC MP Aga Ruhullah.
Meanwhile, problems such as power shortages, unemployment and economic stagnation remain unaddressed. Omar Abdullah’s comment that "metres need to be installed first" before free electricity can be provided only reinforces the impression that the NC is making promises it cannot fulfill.
The lack of concrete action is a serious problem. If the NC fails to fulfill its promises, it runs the risk of suffering the same fate as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which lost credibility after its alliance with the BJP.
For the NC, the stakes could not be higher — its survival depends on proving that it can bring about real change and not just rhetoric.
Déjà Vu: BJP’s Playbook in Action
The BJP’s strategy towards the NC is eerily similar to the one it used against the PDP before 2019. Back then, the BJP entered into an uneasy alliance with the PDP after the 2014 elections, promising stability and development.
But in 2018, the BJP pulled the plug, leading to presidential rule and eventually the abolition of Article 370 a year later. This move decimated the PDP, which was seen as complicit in the BJP’s centralisation agenda.
Now, history seems to be repeating itself. By delaying statehood and letting the NC flounder, the BJP is strategically undermining the party’s credibility. With each passing day that J&K remains a Union Territory, the impression that the NC is powerless grows stronger.
If the party is seen as incapable of challenging the BJP, it runs the risk of being sidelined, as was the case with the PDP.
It is not just about eliminating political opponents. The larger objective of the BJP is to completely reshape the political landscape of J&K and ensure that the regional parties are weakened to the point of irrelevance.
In a region that has long been dominated by local political forces, this is a significant change — and a direct challenge to democratic pluralism.
The people pay the price
The real losers in this political chess game are the people of J&K. The abrogation of Article 370 was not only a legal move, but also an emotional and political blow to the region’s identity. The downgrading to Union Territory status has further disempowered the people and made them feel they have no voice in decision making process that affects their future.
The vacuum in the administration has had real consequences. Unemployment remains high, infrastructure projects are stalled and economic opportunities are dwindling. While the BJP focuses on consolidating its power and the NC struggles to remain relevant, citizens have to accept a deterioration in their quality of life. The longer statehood is delayed, the greater the frustration.
The issue of J&K’s statehood is not just a local issue — it is a litmus test for India’s commitment to democracy and federalism.
By unilaterally downgrading a state and delaying its restoration, the central government has set a dangerous precedent. If the status of J&K can be changed at will, what is stopping similar actions in other states?
For a country as diverse as India, federalism is not just a political arrangement — it is the glue that holds the nation together. Too much centralisation of power weakens this structure and leads to long-term instability.
Restoring J&K’s statehood is about more than just fulfilling a political promise — it is about strengthening the principles of democracy and regional autonomy that form India’s constitutional framework.
Action, Not Promises
If J&K is to move forward, both the central government and the regional parties need to change their approach. The BJP must stop using statehood as a political tool and present a clear timeline for its restoration.
Prolonging uncertainty will only fuel alienation and mistrust.
For its part, the NC must take a step forward. It cannot afford to remain in a reactive mode, making statements but not taking meaningful action. To restore public confidence, the party must focus on delivering tangible results — be it in tackling unemployment, developing infrastructure or ensuring better public services.
Empty rhetoric will no longer be enough.
Opposition parties across India must also realise that there is more at stake. A united front demanding J&K’s statehood could put considerable pressure on the BJP-led government. More importantly, it could help revive India’s democratic ethos and ensure that political manoeuvring does not come at the cost of civil liberties.
In conclusion, the politics of statehood in J&K is more than just an electoral issue — it is a battle for identity, democracy and governance. For the people of J&K, it is not just about political power — but also about dignity, self-respect and the right to shape their own future.
While the BJP plays its strategic game, the regional parties need to find a way to break the cycle of manipulation and marginalisation.
And for India as a whole, it is about upholding the values that make the country a democracy. The time for political calculation is over — it is time for real leadership, real accountability and real change.
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