 Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 18: The outcome of the Maharashtra civil body elections, particularly the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, has begun to ripple through the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, significantly altering equations within the ruling alliance and diminishing the bargaining power of the Congress party in the Union Territory.
Political sources said a section within the J&K Congress was expecting to extract “a pound of flesh” from its alliance partner, the ruling National Conference (NC), by leveraging its support in the Legislative Assembly. The Congress leadership was reportedly eyeing the post of Deputy Speaker as part of a power-sharing understanding. However, the humiliating defeat of the Congress in the high-stakes Maharashtra civic elections has dealt a severe blow to those expectations.
“With the Congress suffering major setbacks nationally, its negotiating position in J&K has weakened considerably.
The chances of the party securing any key constitutional post, including that of Deputy Speaker, now appear bleak,” a senior political observer said.
Sources within the ruling dispensation said the National Conference now views the Congress as a “non-performing liability” rather than a dependable ally capable of adding political value, either electorally or strategically. As a result, the NC is unlikely to attach much importance to Congress demands in the coming months.
More significantly, the National Conference is already working on a strategy to expand its footprint in Jammu province, traditionally considered a stronghold of the BJP and, to some extent, a shared space with the Congress. Party insiders said that after the Maharashtra civic poll results, the NC is likely to further accelerate its campaign to project itself as a credible alternative to the BJP in the Jammu region, gradually reducing its dependence on the Congress.
“The NC leadership believes that relying on a declining Congress does not help its long-term political prospects in Jammu. The plan is to directly engage voters and build an independent base, rather than contesting elections as a junior or equal partner of a weakened ally,” a source said.
Analysts say the developments could reshape alliance dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Congress increasingly being sidelined in decision-making and electoral planning. If the National Conference succeeds in carving out space in Jammu province, it may fundamentally alter the current political balance, leaving the Congress with little leverage both inside and outside the Assembly.
The Maharashtra civic poll verdict, thus, appears to have done more than decide urban governance in that state—it has also triggered a recalibration of political strategies far beyond its borders, including in the sensitive and evolving political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says, “Elections have been held after a long time, and in every election someone wins, and someone loses. Those who secured the maximum seats are from the BJP, and it is their responsibility to fulfil the hopes of Mumbai’s residents. People like us visit Mumbai after a long time and see the difference. During my three-year stay here, we could not have imagined infrastructure like the Coastal Road being built. Such developments, if continued, will greatly benefit the city.” |
