میر بھی کیا سادہ ہیے ۔ بیمارہوا جس کے سبب۔
اسی عطار کے لونڈے سے دوا مانگے ہیں۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔!
This couplet reflects a recurring irony in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, where the very elements that were once rejected, criticized, or boycotted, are often returned to for remedies. The region’s political journey is as complex as its history, defined by moments of contestation, defiance, and accommodation. One of the key actors in this saga has been Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), a religious-political entity that has navigated shifting tides—from active electoral participation to boycotts, and most recently, renewed interest in mainstream politics.
From History to Present Election Discourse in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape has experienced transformative phases, marked by ideological shifts, electoral boycotts, and moments of turbulence. One of the most significant influences on the region’s politics has been Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), a religious-political organization with deep historical roots. While it maintained a strong presence in the political landscape of the Valley, its evolution from participation in electoral politics to boycotts, followed by renewed interest in mainstream democracy, reflects larger political currents in Jammu and Kashmir.
Historical Context: JeI’s Early Electoral Forays
The 1970s marked a period of rising political activism for JeI. The leader of the organization at the time, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, contested as an independent candidate in the 1972 Legislative Assembly elections from Sopore. Though his initial attempt was unsuccessful, with allegations of ballot rigging against his opponent Syed Ahmed Aga, Geelani eventually secured victory in the same seat during the 1977 elections. This marked the beginning of a contentious political journey for JeI, which, despite participating in electoral politics, harbored a stance that later would become synonymous with calls for separatism.
Geelani’s 1977 victory was achieved through an alliance with the Janata Party, which had ousted the Congress government in Delhi following the Emergency. Though the Janata Party failed to make a significant impact in Jammu and Kashmir beyond some small pockets, the partnership with JeI allowed them to make inroads in areas like Sopore. Notably, this election is considered by many as one of the few instances of a free and fair electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir’s history, a rarity given the region’s often contested and turbulent elections. Despite this, the broader Janata Party-JeI alliance did not lead to major successes across the state, but it played a pivotal role in shaping the Valley’s political narratives at the time.
Electoral Boycott and Ban: A Turning Point
As the political atmosphere in Kashmir deteriorated in the 1980s and 1990s, JeI’s ideological position shifted sharply towards separatism. The group took on an anti-electoral stance, boycotting elections and eventually being banned multiple times by the Indian government. The most recent ban came in 2019, following the Pulwama attack, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which accused JeI of supporting terrorism and anti-India sentiments. This step by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) followed several earlier crackdowns during periods of unrest, including bans in 1975 and 1990, especially during heightened militancy.
Despite the ban, JeI retained its influence through its ideological alignment with Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and its presence across the South Asian subcontinent. Even in exile from mainstream politics, the organization’s base, particularly in regions like Sopore, Pulwama, and Shopian, remained a vital part of the socio-political fabric of Kashmir.
The Abrogation of Article 370 and a Renewed Electoral Interest
The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 marked a pivotal shift in Jammu and Kashmir’s status, stripping the region of its special autonomy and turning it into a Union Territory. For organizations like JeI, this move ushered in a period of reassessment. With members detained, properties attached, and the group’s operations effectively curtailed, JeI found itself in an unprecedented crisis.
However, by 2024, JeI’s approach seemed to be changing. For the first time in over 30 years, the organization showed signs of willingness to participate in electoral politics once again. In a move that surprised many, JeI cadres turned out to vote in the 2024 Parliamentary elections in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. This marked a significant deviation from their long-held boycott of the electoral process. JeI leaders, including figures like Ghulam Qadir Wani, indicated that the organization was preparing to contest elections, provided the ban was revoked.
JeI’s decision to engage with electoral politics once again can be viewed as a response to the changing socio-political conditions post-2019. The abrogation of Article 370 and the ongoing crackdown on political dissent pushed JeI to seek alternative routes to assert its influence. With the promise of revocation of the ban, they are looking to re-enter the political space through democratic means.
Criticism and Skepticism
However, JeI’s return to the ballot is not without controversy. Political observers and former officials, including ex-Kashmir police chief Ali Mohammad Watali, argue that the organization’s sudden embrace of democracy is a strategic move, possibly orchestrated by agencies to fragment the “anti-BJP” vote in the region. Skeptics warn that the re-entry of JeI into electoral politics might be part of a broader effort to reshape the political landscape of Kashmir in a way that benefits the ruling establishment.
Meanwhile, regional political parties like the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have cautiously welcomed JeI’s potential re-entry into the political fold. Leaders such as Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have voiced support for lifting the ban, seeing it as a step towards normalizing the political process in the Valley.
The Present Election Discourse
As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its first Assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370, the political discourse is dominated by questions of representation, statehood, and autonomy. The participation of JeI, whether through independent candidates or direct engagement, adds a new layer of complexity to the electoral map. With the ban still in place, JeI’s role in the elections is likely to remain limited, but their endorsement of independent candidates signals a willingness to test the waters of democratic participation.
At the heart of this evolving political discourse lies a broader question: What does electoral participation mean in a region where the legacy of conflict and resistance to the state apparatus is so deeply entrenched? For JeI, as well as other regional players, navigating this fraught terrain will require balancing local aspirations with the realities of a changed political order in Jammu and Kashmir.
The evolution of JeI’s role in Jammu and Kashmir’s elections—from active participation in the 1970s to a staunch boycott during the height of militancy, and now a potential return to the ballot—reflects the fluidity of political allegiances in the Valley. As the region approaches a new phase in its electoral history, the reconfiguration of alliances, the involvement of once-banned organizations like JeI, and the central government’s handling of these developments will continue to shape the political future of Jammu and Kashmir.
