Budgam elections and the politics of selective memory: How past still shadows J&K

By Raqif Makhdoomi*

The election fever in Budgam is rising with each passing day, with both the Chief Minister and the former Chief Minister addressing large rallies. The atmosphere has become increasingly charged, drawing people to political events in large numbers. Both major parties are aggressively attacking each other’s past records—PDP accusing the National Conference (NC) of election rigging, and NC holding PDP responsible for paving the way for the abrogation of Article 370.

Addressing an election rally, Omar Abdullah—who has represented Budgam as MLA—accused the PDP-BJP alliance of marking the beginning of Jammu and Kashmir’s political downfall. The National Conference’s key campaign theme in these bypolls is the PDP-BJP alliance, which it calls the “gateway” to all the state’s current problems. Omar Abdullah accused PDP of betraying the people by forming an alliance with the BJP after seeking votes on the promise of keeping the saffron party out. Similar remarks were made by Education Minister Sakina Itoo while speaking to the media.

It appears that the entire NC campaign has been instructed to focus on the PDP-BJP alliance as its main talking point to sway voters. This same strategy was used effectively in the 2024 elections, helping NC secure 42 seats and emerge as the single largest party. However, this time, the public seems less willing to buy into those claims, having witnessed the outcomes of their earlier trust just a year ago.

A forgotten but crucial point from NC’s own campaign is its acknowledgment that it is not blameless. The party had asked people to view it as the “lesser evil,” to forgive its past “misdeeds,” and give it another chance to prove its commitment to the people. They sought forgiveness in the hope of regaining what had been lost. Yet, their actions since then suggest otherwise.

The question remains—was the PDP-BJP alliance solely responsible for the abrogation of Article 370? The answer lies deeper in history, particularly in the arrest and later release of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, which led to the 1975 Sheikh-Indira Accord (also known as the Kashmir Accord). This accord dealt a serious blow to Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy. Sheikh Abdullah, who was arrested as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, was released and reinstalled as Chief Minister after signing the accord.

Political historians have recorded that while Sheikh Abdullah was in jail, he was kept informed about every alteration related to Article 370 and was even consulted on many of those changes. His supporters often place blame on Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, G.M. Sadiq, Mir Qasim, and Mirza Afzal Beg, but fairness to history requires acknowledgment of Sheikh Abdullah’s own role. His contribution to ending Dogra rule and helping Kashmiris live with dignity cannot be denied, but his later political compromises have left lasting consequences.

Accusing PDP of not joining hands with NC is not helping the latter’s case either. People now know how eager NC leaders were to form a government with the BJP, even offering them the Chief Minister’s post in exchange for the Deputy Chief Ministership. These secret discussions remained hidden until members of NC itself disclosed them.

Moreover, few recall how Omar Abdullah began his political career. He was a Minister of State in the BJP-led NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In his autobiography, former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani recounts how Farooq Abdullah approached Delhi with his autonomy resolution, only to back down when told, “Farooq sahib, kya karna hai.” Soon after, Omar Abdullah was made a minister, and the autonomy resolution was quietly shelved. The people’s autonomy, many argue, was sacrificed for Omar’s political career.

The only leader who took a genuine stand against the BJP was Saifuddin Soz. His one decisive vote brought down the Vajpayee government. Yet, he was expelled from the NC by the same Abdullahs who now claim to oppose the BJP. The party continues to bury this history because if it resurfaces, it would expose uncomfortable truths.

On Article 370, too, NC leaders mislead people. It was Sheikh Abdullah himself who once said in the Assembly, “Article 370 is not a Quranic verse that cannot be changed.” He supported its gradual dilution over time. Omar Abdullah has spoken endlessly about the PDP-BJP alliance, but he never mentions his own role as a minister in a BJP-led government during communal unrest.

The Abdullah family has been not only signatories but also enablers of every major political compromise in Jammu and Kashmir. They have repeatedly justified their actions in the name of “pragmatism,” but the real motive has consistently been the preservation of power.

The PDP-BJP alliance, for all its flaws, was at least built on a publicly stated “Agenda of Alliance.” In contrast, the NC has often placed its political ambitions above the people’s interests. As election campaigns unfold once again in Budgam, it is worth remembering that much of the history being invoked today is the very history that some would prefer to hide.

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*Law student and human rights activist

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