Balancing loyalty and relevance: Congress’s position in Jammu and Kashmir

By Raqif Makhdoomi

The , one of the oldest political parties in the country, played a historic role in India’s freedom movement and post-Independence governance. In , too, it has had a long and complex political history marked by both cooperation and confrontation with regional parties.

Over the decades, Congress has allied with both the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) — the two dominant regional players. Historically, Congress exercised considerable influence in shaping state politics, including during key moments such as the dismissal of in 1953 and political realignments involving in the 1980s. The party’s central leadership often played a decisive role in determining the course of events in the state.

When Sheikh Abdullah returned to power after years of incarceration, it was under an arrangement that had Congress’s backing. Similarly, Farooq Abdullah’s return to the Chief Minister’s office in 1986 followed an accord with then Prime Minister . Later, when Omar Abdullah assumed the post for the first time, it was also through a coalition with Congress.

In the more recent political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, Congress’s alliance with the NC during the first helped dispel speculation of a hidden understanding between NC and the . The partnership contributed to NC emerging as the single largest party. However, the alliance came at a cost — Congress lost all seats in Jammu and failed to secure any ministerial representation in the government, despite being a coalition partner.

Congress’s continued support to the NC-led government has invited criticism from the BJP, which has used the resolution in the Assembly as a political weapon against it. Despite the national-level backlash and electoral setbacks in subsequent state polls, Congress has not withdrawn its support, a stance seen by some as an attempt to maintain political stability in the region.

Tensions between the allies have, however, surfaced. The NC’s decision to field candidates for the without consulting Congress caused discontent within the state Congress unit, which had hoped for a safe seat. The NC’s outreach to the PDP for support in legislative matters further highlighted the shifting political dynamics. The PDP, in turn, appears to be leveraging its position to gain support for its legislative priorities in the upcoming Assembly session.

Observers note that while Congress has traditionally been a decisive force in Jammu and Kashmir politics, it currently appears to play a more subdued role within the alliance. Some within the party believe that it should assert itself more strongly and seek equitable representation in governance. Others interpret its current stance as a demonstration of political maturity and commitment to coalition stability.

Whether Congress’s restrained approach reflects strategic patience or political surrender remains a matter of interpretation. What is clear is that its future relevance in Jammu and Kashmir will depend on how it balances loyalty to its allies with the need to re-establish its own political footing.

---

Raqif Makhdoomi is a law student

Comments

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan* An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...

'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Health Day ads spark row as NAPi targets Britannia campaign, criticizes celebrity endorsement

By A Representative The advocacy group Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) has raised concerns over what it describes as misleading advertising of ultra-processed food products (UPFs), particularly those high in sugar, fat and salt, calling for stricter regulations and an end to such promotions across media platforms.

Search This Blog