Unity displayed by the Jammu & Kashmir’s non BJP mainstream parties under the leadership of National Conference President Farooq Abdullah is undoubtedly a welcome move but only consistency in pursuing the core political agenda can take the struggle for restoration of Pre-August 5, 2019 position of this non BJP mainstream formation to it’s logical conclusion. Unfortunately the major constituents of non BJP mainstream parties committing themselves to August 4, 2019 Gupkar declaration have not a good track record in political consistency which ultimately decides the fate of political alliances . The grand old party National Conference heading the non BJP mainstream political formation for restoration of pre-August 4, 2019 position of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state has a long track record of broken promises. The journey from Muslim Conference to National Conference and National Conference to J&K Plebiscite Front and from J&K Plebiscite Front to National Conference shows that political inconsistency of Abdullahs’ in pursuing Kashmir’s core political agenda has relegated the position of a special status state to just two union territories. Congress Party becoming a part of Farooq Abdullah led non BJP formation for restoration of Pre August 5, 2019 position in Jammu & Kashmir also owes too many explanations for taking away the constitutional and institutional positions from the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state during it’s successive stints of power both at the centre and as well as in the erstwhile state. Though Congress party has been a major coalition partner of several coalition governments in Jammu & Kashmir but instead of sharing the concerns of the regional parties over the special status of the erstwhile state the party while in power at the centre did not miss even a single opportunity in downgrading the constitutional and institutional positions of erstwhile state.
Better late than never for non-BJP mainstream parties coming together to struggle for restoration of Pre August 5, 2019 position but Farooq Abdullah heading the non-BJP mainstream formation with an agenda for restoration of Pre August 5, 2019 position has to keeping in mind that ultimately the strength of the unity of this non-BJP mainstream formation and the fate of it’s struggle for restoration of pre-August 5,2019 position of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state would be the political consistency of the leaders of all the constituent groups keeping in view their dismal records in political consistency.
The third major political party becoming part of Farooq Abdullah led BJP formation for restoration of Pre August 5, 2019 position in Jammu & Kashmir is known for crossing all limits in forging an alliance with BJP from 2014 till August 4,2019 and as such has no good track record in political consistency. People of Jammu & Kashmir reserve the right to seek explanations from all the non BJP political parties for pulling in different directions after the fall of erstwhile Mehbooba led PDP-BJP coalition government in July 2018 till August 4, 2019. Better late than never for non-BJP mainstream parties coming together to struggle for restoration of Pre August 5, 2019 position but Farooq Abdullah heading the non-BJP mainstream formation with an agenda for restoration of Pre August 5, 2019 position has to keeping in mind that ultimately the strength of the unity of this non-BJP mainstream formation and the fate of it’s struggle for restoration of pre-August 5,2019 position of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state would be the political consistency of the leaders of all the constituent groups keeping in view their dismal records in political consistency.