Avinash Azad
The political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing significant upheaval as two prominent regional parties, the Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), face a series of high-profile defections. These developments come at a critical time, when much awaited assembly polls scheduled to take place in the month of September and October, both these parties came in existence after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in August 2019, which led to the reorganization of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.
Both JKAP and DPAP, formed by defectors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress respectively, are now struggling to retain their leadership and grassroots support. On Tuesday, JKAP suffered a major blow when its Vice President, Zafar Iqbal Manhas, and his son, Irfan Manhas, resigned from the party. Zafar Iqbal Manhas, a founding member of JKAP after breaking away from the PDP, confirmed his resignation, signaling potential political realignment as sources suggest he is likely to join Congress on Wednesday in the presence of senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
Zafar Iqbal Manhas was a key figure in the establishment of JKAP and had contested the Rajouri-Anantnag Lok Sabha seat on a JKAP ticket with BJP backing, although he finished third with 142,195 votes. His departure, along with his son, who is the Vice Chairperson of the District Development Council (DDC) Shopian, represents a significant setback for JKAP, which has been grappling with internal strife and dwindling support.
This resignation follows closely on the heels of other defections that have shaken JKAP. Just days earlier, Zulfkar Choudhary, a two-time MLA from the Darhal constituency and former minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government, left JKAP to join the BJP. Zulfkar had initially deserted the PDP to join JKAP but now adds to the growing list of leaders abandoning the party, leaving it increasingly vulnerable as the political climate in the region intensifies.
DPAP, the party founded by Ghulam Nabi Azad after his exit from Congress in 2022, faces similar challenges. In a recent setback, senior leader and former minister Taj Mohiudin, who had left Congress to join DPAP, announced his return to Congress. This defection is seen as a significant blow to DPAP, which has struggled to establish itself as a formidable force in the region since its inception.
As defections from JKAP and DPAP continue, there is growing speculation that both parties may face further losses in the coming days. These developments underscore the instability within these regional parties, which were formed with high hopes of capitalizing on the post-abrogation political environment. However, their ability to retain key leaders and maintain a strong organizational structure appears to be weakening as the political realignment in Jammu and Kashmir gains momentum.
In addition to the political turmoil within JKAP and DPAP, there is rising resentment among Scheduled Tribes (ST) groups over reservations. The All Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar-Bakerwal Organization Coordination Committee (AJKGBOCC) has called on the central government to clarify the status of nine reserved seats for STs in the Union Territory. This demand follows the inclusion of four new communities-Gadda Brahmin, Koli, Paddari Tribe, and Pahari Ethnic Group-into the ST list earlier this year.
The AJKGBOCC argues that the reserved seats were originally allocated based on the 2011 census and the 2022 delimitation commission report, which reflected the population of 12 communities designated as STs in 1989 and 1991. Confusion has arisen among ST communities following the inclusion of the new groups, with leaders from these newly recognized STs expressing interest in contesting the reserved seats.
AJKGBOCC Chairman Mohd Anwar Chowdhary emphasized the need for a clear distinction between the original ST groups (classified as ST-I) and the newly added communities (classified as ST-II). Chowdhary stressed that the reserved seats should remain exclusively for ST-I groups to ensure their proper representation. The committee has submitted a representation to the Election Commission and the central government, seeking immediate clarification on this issue. As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its upcoming assembly elections, these issues are likely to play a significant role in shaping the region’s political future.
