Jammu: The National Conference’s (NC) back-to-back shows of strength—first through a day-long convention at Naseem Bagh in Srinagar’s Hazratbal following the Dachigam Declaration in Kashmir and now in Jammu ahead of its proposed Jantar Mantar protest in New Delhi demanding restoration of statehood—are being seen as a political campaign to build public pressure on the Centre.
However, the timing of these mobilisations also suggests that the ruling party is attempting to address growing challenges within its own ranks.
Political observers believe the NC’s outreach is driven by two immediate compulsions. The first is to contain visible internal dissent that has increasingly entered the public domain. The second is to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) continued campaign that the ruling party is heading towards a vertical split.
Internal differences have become difficult to ignore. The party’s Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has openly questioned the leadership’s political priorities, arguing that the National Conference received its electoral mandate not merely to seek restoration of statehood but also to pursue the restoration of Article 370 and the constitutional position that existed before August 5, 2019.
Mehdi was absent from both key party events. He was not invited to the Dachigam Declaration meeting on July 3, where the National Conference unveiled its roadmap for seeking the restoration of statehood through a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20. He was also reportedly excluded from the day-long party convention held at Naseem Bagh in Srinagar on July 11.
His remarks have resonated with a section of the party cadre that believes the NC’s post-election political discourse has increasingly centred on statehood while gradually relegating the issue of Article 370 to the background which was the larger ideological commitment of the party.
Although the party leadership maintains that restoration of statehood is the most practical and constitutionally attainable objective at present, the divergence in views has exposed fault lines within the organisation. The public articulation of these differences has inevitably fuelled speculation regarding internal cohesion.
Sensing an opportunity, the BJP has sharpened its attack. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma has repeatedly claimed that the National Conference would witness a major split once Chief Minister Omar Abdullah proceeds with the long-awaited Cabinet expansion. He has even alleged that several NC legislators are ready to join the BJP, citing dissatisfaction over governance and dynastic politics. While these claims remain unsubstantiated, they have kept the narrative of instability alive in the political discourse.
The National Conference has dismissed the BJP’s assertions as an attempt to destabilise an elected government. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah responded forcefully during the day-long convention at Naseem Bagh in Srinagar, alleging that BJP leaders had tried to lure NC legislators with offers of money reportedly ranging from Rs 20 crore to Rs 30 crore, ministerial positions and even assurances of restoration of statehood. The BJP has denied these allegations, but the exchange of words shows the increasingly bitter political contest between the two parties.
Against this backdrop, the National Conference’s decision to organise successive shows of strength assumes greater political significance beyond its stated objective of demanding statehood. The successive gatherings are aimed not only at sending a message to the Centre but also at reassuring party workers, legislators and supporters that the organisation remains united despite public differences.
The party, however, faces a delicate balancing act. During the Assembly elections, it promised to pursue both restoration of statehood and Article 370. While statehood has now emerged as its principal political demand, many supporters continue to expect the leadership to remain equally vocal on Article 370. Managing these expectations without widening internal divisions will be one of the NC’s biggest political tests.
