Half-a-CM: Trials and tribulations of Omar Abdullah

Political observers believe Abdullah's influence is waning as the region’s powers have been drastically reduced.

In the five months since Omar Abdullah became the first Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir as a Union Territory, there has been little noticeable change in the region. Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) won 42 seats in the assembly elections last September, but there has been little by way of action for him to take credit, save the step to reverse the academic calendar to bring it in sync with J&K's climatic zones.

Shortly after taking office, Abdullah and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo changed the academic calendar from March to November, undoing J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s 2022 order for a "uniform academic calendar" to align the region with the rest of India.

On Key Election Issues, Assembly Resolutions Are All NC Can Show

The government has done little to address major issues raised during the election campaign, such as restoring Article 370, releasing prisoners or return to statehood. Instead, resolutions were passed in the disempowered assembly.

Since the Supreme Court upheld the Central government’s decision to revoke Article 370 in December 2023, the issue has been sidelined, and Abdullah’s focus has shifted to statehood restoration.

Without Statehood, The CM Has Limited Power

In recent months, Abdullah has tried to mend ties with the Centre, but the BJP is unwilling to grant J&K statehood, which would grant Abdullah more power. During his first visit to New Delhi, he submitted his cabinet’s resolution for statehood restoration to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and met with central ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari, even presenting them with shawls.

The Central government promised to restore statehood once the situation stabilised, but nearly six years later, there are no signs of progress. In October, BJP leader Ram Madhav stated that J&K would regain statehood, but with conditions, adding that Parliament would decide when and how it should be restored.

In the ongoing assembly session, PDP MLA Waheed Para criticised the Abdullah-led NC, claiming their silence on key issues would harm J&K, which he said has become a "municipality" with little political power.

The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, which shifted the balance of power towards the Lieutenant Governor, has made Abdullah’s position difficult. The UT system has limited his authority, and, for example, law and order no longer falls under the CM’s control, so he cannot issue police transfer orders.

In a Fix Over Calls To Ban Liquor

Since taking office in October, Abdullah has failed to address key concerns, including calls for a complete alcohol sales ban in J&K and protests over a new reservation policy. Three MLAs—Mir Mohammad Fayaz (PDP), Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad (AIP), and Ahsan Pardesi (NC)—submitted bills seeking a ban on liquor in the region.

The NC, now in power, faced opposition due to its change in stance regarding the bills, which sought to prohibit alcohol sales. Abdullah stated that the NC did not commit to a liquor ban in its manifesto. "Let it come to the Assembly, and we will discuss it there," he said, questioning why previous governments did not act on the issue.

The calls for an alcohol ban trace back to NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who rejected the proposal, fearing it would discourage tourism.

New Reservation Policy Has Run Into Opposition

The new reservation policy introduced by the LG Sinha-led administration has sparked controversy. It reduced reservation for the general category while increasing it for reserved categories. The policy granted 10% reservations for Paharis and other tribes, raising the total ST category reservation to 20%, limiting opportunities for the general category in government jobs and education.

In December, protests outside Abdullah’s residence demanded a review of the policy. Abdullah’s party colleague and Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi led the protests, calling for rationalisation of quotas based on population proportions and adherence to Supreme Court rulings.

Despite the public outcry, Abdullah’s government has not made any significant moves on the issue, and the policy is now under review by the J&K High Court.

Public Disenchantment Is Out In The Open

Many NC supporters have voiced frustration on social media, accusing Abdullah of passing the responsibility to the central government and failing to act, citing his lack of power. Ruhullah Mehdi has openly criticised Abdullah, warning that the CM risks being seen as "Delhi’s representative."

Abdullah, who also serves as J&K’s finance minister, presented the UT's first budget after the abrogation of Article 370, amounting to Rs 1.12 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2025-26. This budget is the first by an elected government in J&K in seven years, with key measures like free public transport for women across J&K and 200 units of free electricity for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) homes. However, the budget excludes 88% of J&K’s population by limiting food and free power benefits to AAY cardholders. Critics accused Abdullah and his MLAs of prioritising AAY voters.

Political observers believe Abdullah's influence is waning as the region’s powers have been drastically reduced. Speculation is growing that his leadership may soon end.

Amidst the weakening of mainstream and separatist leaders, Mirwaiz Kashmir met with the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal and Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi in January to discuss proposed amendments to the Waqf Bill. This meeting suggested a shift in Delhi's approach, hinting at potential engagement with separatists. However, in March, the Centre banned Mirwaiz’s Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM) for five years, accusing them of supporting terrorism and promoting secessionism.