The 1987 elections in Jammu and Kashmir marked a significant turning point in the state’s political history, and their consequences reverberate to this day. This watershed moment contributed to a shift in the trajectory of the region, directly or indirectly igniting decades of unrest, militancy, and an evolving political landscape. At the heart of this transformation was the role of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the senior-most Congress leader in the region, whose actions and ambitions during this period influenced the course of events leading up to the controversial election.
Background of the 1987 Elections
In the years leading up to the 1987 elections, Jammu and Kashmir had been under the leadership of Farooq Abdullah, who was reinstated as Chief Minister in 1986 following an agreement with then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This accord between the Indian National Congress and the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), known as the Rajiv-Farooq Accord, was designed to stabilize the volatile political situation in the state and strengthen ties between the central government and the state leadership.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who had long harbored ambitions of becoming Chief Minister, was staunchly opposed to the accord. He believed that by aligning with Farooq Abdullah, the Congress leadership in Delhi was overlooking local interests and compromising the influence of the state’s Congress leaders, including himself. The political tension between Sayeed and Abdullah had been brewing for years, especially after Farooq Abdullah’s government was dismissed in 1984, an event in which Sayeed was seen as a key player.
Sayeed’s political aspirations were thwarted when Rajiv Gandhi chose to reinstate Farooq Abdullah instead of giving Sayeed the opportunity to become Chief Minister. Instead, Sayeed was offered a Rajya Sabha seat and the position of Union Tourism Minister, a move that sidelined him from the state’s political scene. However, this did not diminish his influence, as he continued to play a critical role behind the scenes, particularly during the 1987 elections.
The Emergence of the Muslim United Front (MUF)
The political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir in 1987 was significantly shaped by the emergence of the Muslim United Front (MUF), a coalition of Islamic parties that came together to challenge the dominance of the JKNC and Congress. The MUF symbolized a new force in Kashmiri politics, representing a strong local and religious identity that resonated with many voters who felt disillusioned with the existing political establishment.
The MUF was not merely an opposition group; it represented the aspirations of a large segment of the Kashmiri population that had grown frustrated with the perceived corruption, misgovernance, and disconnect of the mainstream political parties. Many analysts believe that the MUF would have performed exceptionally well in the 1987 elections, potentially securing 15 to 20 seats, had the elections been free and fair.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, while officially a leader of the Congress party, is reported to have tacitly supported the MUF during the elections. Sayeed’s frustration with his own party and the political alliance between Congress and the JKNC led him to subtly promote the MUF as an alternative force, particularly in his stronghold of Anantnag. Reports suggest that during election rallies, Sayeed employed symbolic gestures, such as holding a pen—a reference to the MUF’s election symbol—and touching an imaginary beard, signaling his covert endorsement of the MUF candidates, despite being a Congress leader.
The Role of Rigging and Its Aftermath
The 1987 elections in Jammu and Kashmir were marred by widespread allegations of rigging. As votes were counted, it became clear that the MUF had garnered significant support from the electorate. However, before the final results could be announced, the ruling government intervened to prevent the MUF from gaining political power. Top MUF leaders were arrested on charges of anti-national activities, and many election results were manipulated in favor of the JKNC and Congress candidates.
Sumantra Bose, a political scientist, documented a key contest involving the MUF’s Muhammad Yusuf Shah, who would later become Sayeed Salahuddin, the leader of the Hizbul Mujahideen, a prominent militant group. Shah’s opponent, initially dejected after losing the election, was later declared the winner by election officials following direct intervention by the government. This blatant manipulation of the election results contributed to a deep sense of disillusionment among Kashmiri voters, many of whom had already grown weary of the political establishment.
The rigging of the 1987 elections is widely regarded as a critical turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. It is believed to have contributed directly to the rise of militancy in the region, as many MUF supporters, frustrated with the political system, turned to armed resistance as the only viable alternative. Leaders such as Sayeed Salahuddin and Yasin Malik, who had been active in the political process during the elections, eventually took up arms and became key figures in the insurgency that would engulf the region for decades.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Role in Shaping the Outcome
While the rigging of the 1987 elections is often attributed to the central government and the JKNC, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s role in shaping the political landscape of the time cannot be overlooked. As a senior Congress leader, Sayeed was instrumental in both the pre-election strategy and the post-election fallout.
His tacit support for the MUF, despite being a Congress leader, suggests that Sayeed saw the coalition as a means to undermine Farooq Abdullah and his political dominance in the state. Sayeed’s long-standing ambition to become Chief Minister likely fueled his actions during the elections, as he sought to build an alternative political force that could challenge the JKNC-Congress alliance.
However, Sayeed’s ambitions were ultimately thwarted by the central leadership, particularly Rajiv Gandhi, who prioritized his friendship with Farooq Abdullah over Sayeed’s political aspirations. This decision, combined with the rigging of the elections, led to a significant erosion of trust in the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir.
A Legacy of Unrest
The 1987 elections in Jammu and Kashmir were a turning point in the region’s political history, and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed played a critical role in shaping their outcome. While the elections themselves were marred by widespread rigging and manipulation, the broader impact of the events that followed cannot be overstated.
The political disenfranchisement experienced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in 1987 contributed directly to the rise of militancy in the region, as disillusioned voters and political activists turned to armed resistance as a means of challenging the status quo. Sayeed’s involvement in these events, both as a senior Congress leader and as a covert supporter of the MUF, highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of Kashmiri politics during this period.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s legacy is thus one of both political ambition and unintended consequences. While he may have sought to challenge the political dominance of Farooq Abdullah and the JKNC, the outcome of the 1987 elections set in motion a chain of events that would lead to decades of unrest, violence, and instability in Jammu and Kashmir.
