Elections in Jammu and Kashmir highlighted a clear regional divide. While Kashmir overwhelmingly voted for the NC-Congress alliance, Jammu largely sided with the BJP. However, the alliance government has ensured representation for Jammu by appointing three ministers to the cabinet, including a deputy chief minister.
As a Union Territory (UT), Jammu and Kashmir can appoint only 10 per cent of the 90-member assembly as cabinet ministers, including the chief minister.
Along with Omar Abdullah, vice president of the NC, who was sworn in as the chief minister, Surinder Chaudhary from Nowshera in Rajouri, Satish Sharma, an independent who supports the alliance, and Javid Rana, who won from Mendhar, were inducted into the cabinet.
Observers note that by appointing three ministers from Jammu, especially Chaudhary as deputy chief minister, the NC-Congress government under Omar has made efforts to bridge the regional divide between Jammu and Kashmir. The inclusion of these three ministers from Jammu is expected to alleviate the sense of under-representation of Jammu in the government.
Observers opine that Omar has sent a strong message that his government would not be Kashmir-centric. Chaudhary’s victory over BJP’s state president Ravinder Raina in Nowshera, a bgwig, made his appointment particularly significant, as it demonstrated Omar’s intent to honour the political voice of Jammu, where the BJP has a strong presence.
Justifying Chaudhary’s elevation as deputy CM, Omar said: “I fulfilled my promise by choosing a deputy CM from Jammu. I had promised that the people of Jammu should not feel that they are not part of the government. This is a clear message to the people of Jammu that we are going to take them along.”
Chaudhary himself acknowledged the significance of his role.“The deputy CM’s portfolio is a big responsibility on my shoulders. I will try to fulfill my duty to the best of my abilities. It is very difficult to fill the vacuum of the past 10 years, but I have full faith in the leadership of CM Omar Abdullah. I hope to serve the people of Jammu, even though the task is full of challenges,” he said.
Beyond Chaudhary, Sharma and Rana are key figures in Rajouri, a region bordering Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). Sharma holds a unique position as the son of former Congress leader Madan Lal Sharma. His inclusion signals an effort to engage with independent voices in Jammu, ensuring that various political perspectives are represented.
The induction of these three ministers underscores the Omar-led NC-Congress government’s commitment to giving Jammu a substantial role in the new government. This is also aimed at the BJP, which has been raising the issue of Kashmir’s hegemony over Jammu.
By ensuring significant representation for Jammu, Omar has addressed concerns of political neglect in the region. This move signals a strategy of inclusivity, reinforcing his government’s commitment to serving both Jammu and Kashmir.
“This government can’t just be for the people who voted for us. It has to be for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar told THE WEEK in an interview, emphasising his broader vision of governance that transcends electoral divides.