As the political spotlight once again shifts toward Jammu and Kashmir during the long-overdue assembly elections, the media’s gaze remains fixed on Kashmir. With every report and panel discussion, the conversation steers toward the valley’s political fault lines, the contest between regional heavyweights, and the issues of security, peace, statehood and abrogation of Article 370. But lost in this familiar narrative is a region that has suffered in silence, whose political voice has been ignored for far too long — Jammu.
The real electoral battle in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections isn’t in Kashmir, but in Jammu, where anti-incumbency sentiments are strong. With 11 assembly seats in Jammu district alone and 43 seats in the Jammu division, the election results here could very well decide who the next chief minister will be.
This region has endured significant challenges over the past years, from installation of toll plazas to policy paralysis to economic losses caused by initiatives like the new excise policy and the suspension of the Darbar move. Despite this, Jammu continues to remain ignored. Sadly, the leaders from Jammu often rush to Kashmir to give interviews rather than addressing the region’s critical issues in national discourse.
Even during the G20 summit, global attention remained fixed on Kashmir while Jammu was sidelined. The media’s persistent focus on Kashmir is puzzling, especially when it is Jammu that is poised to be the deciding factor in the elections.
Despite security threats and Pakistan’s continuous attempts to destabilise Jammu region by pushing militants across the Line of Control (LoC), the people of Jammu have shown remarkable enthusiasm towards the assembly elections. Even militant attacks and targeted killings haven’t weakened their resolve.
Voters from Jammu who feel disconnected from policy making see this election as an opportunity to voice their opinions, hoping for a government that will address their grievances. However, the political climate in the Jammu region is not particularly favourable for the BJP. There is a strong dissatisfaction with the ruling party, which has failed to adequately address security and other governance concerns over the past five years. What is working in the saffron party’s advantage is a weak and disorganised Opposition, especially the Congress party’s mismanagement.
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Notably, despite the Modi wave, the Congress party had managed to win 12 seats in the 2014 assembly polls in J&K. Though they once held a strong base among the Dogra Hindu voters in Jammu, that support has gradually diminished. After seven years, the tide might turn in favour of the grand old party but they seem disorganised and hesitant to fully capitalise on the anti-incumbency sentiment. On the other hand, the BJP is engaged in a crucial electoral battle to reclaim its political relevance in the Union Territory. The party is heavily banking on the newly introduced ST reservation for the Pahari community over the issues of development and has thrown its full weight behind the elections, determined to secure a strong foothold.
A region battling for relevance
Despite being key to the political future of J&K, Jammu is still struggling to find relevance. Jammu’s issues are not new, but their continued absence from the national stage speaks volumes. This is a region that has suffered economically and politically over the last seven years. While the Kashmir valley grapples with its own set of challenges, Jammu’s struggles have often been dismissed or downplayed.
Consider the fact that the region has been fighting for equitable development at par with Kashmir for decades. Despite being the economic backbone of the erstwhile state of J&K, generating significant revenue from industries like tourism, agriculture and trade, it remains underfunded and underrepresented. The BJP’s slogan “Naya Kashmir” only mentioned Kashmir and left out Jammu, when it should have been “Naya Jammu and Kashmir” to acknowledge both the regions.
In the seven years since Jammu and Kashmir has been without an elected assembly, the people of Jammu have also borne the brunt of this political vacuum. From stalled developmental projects to the erosion of job opportunities, from struggling to find attention in government policies to watching their industries and transport businesses struggle to survive, the region has been fighting an uphill battle for relevance. Yet, the national media seldom covers these stories. Kashmir, with its volatile political history, has understandably commanded attention, but this has come at the cost of ignoring Jammu’s concerns.
Transport Nagar in Jammu reveals the crisis the once-thriving transport industry, which used to be the backbone of J&K’s economy is facing. Today, many truckers and commercial vehicle owners are burdened with debt with no bail out or revival plan by the government. Photo: Kanwal Singh
There has been very less focus on the economic struggles of Jammu’s transport sector that has faced significant setbacks in the recent years, a major source of anti-incumbency sentiment.Vijay Singh Chib, all J&K transport welfare association president says:
“The transport business in J&K has been in crisis for the past seven years, operating under difficult conditions following the lockdowns post-abrogation and the COVID pandemic. Even during these periods, when vehicles were parked, the government continued to impose taxes. No relief was offered in the form of fee reductions or rebates in renewal of permits. The introduction of a large number of private e-buses of Tata by the government further harmed local transport businesses.”
Vijay Singh also highlighted that illegal fines and corruption have exacerbated the exploitation of transporters. “Repeated requests for a new transport policy, including a demand for industrial status for the sector, which supports over five lakh commercial vehicles, have been ignored by the government.”
The business community’s struggles post Darbar move suspension
Maharaja Ranbir Singh had initially introduced the Darbar move — a process involving biannual rotation of capital — where Jammu was the winter capital and Kashmir was the summer capital. This was done to ensure that both Jammu and Kashmir could prosper economically.
The BJP could have left a better impression on the public had they handled the suspension of the Darbar move differently. The complete halt of this tradition has caused significant financial losses, especially for the youth and the business community such as shopkeepers in traditional markets like Raghunath Bazaar.
On September 18 last year, Jammu’s business community called for a complete shutdown of the city, protesting various issues, including the possible entry of Reliance with 100 new retail stores in Jammu.
The new excise policy severely impacted the local businesses where majority of the local wine traders went bankrupt. Additionally, the region’s youth have suffered due to the lack of private sector opportunities.
With most jobs tied to government positions, a series of recruitment scams have further dampened the job market while many youths have crossed the age limit for government exams due to lockdowns and stagnant employment opportunities. Jammu is seeking balanced development in the private sector to create employment opportunities.
Jammu’s broader issues and environmental concerns
Jammu’s struggles extend beyond business and employment. Policies that overlook local issues such as high electricity tariffs, the introduction of property tax, domicile laws for land, and the concerns of micro-minority communities like Sikhs, including the exclusion of Punjabi from the official language bill — have deepened the region’s disconnect.
Much like the concerns raised by people in Kashmir regarding the safeguards for land and employment after the abrogation of Article 370, residents of Jammu have expressed similar apprehensions. Moreover, concerns about preserving Dogra identity continue to linger. Although Dogri has been designated as one of the official languages of Jammu and Kashmir, no additional measures have been taken to promote the language or its script, Takri.
There are also no Dogri signboards to be found on the streets of Jammu. A scholar from Jammu University pointed out that most Dogri scholars are unemployed due to the lack of new positions in the higher education department. The situation is similar for scholars of other regional languages such as Punjabi.
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The concerns of the Dogra community regarding preserving their rich heritage and culture have also been ignored. The government’s plan to transform the historic Mubarak Mandi complex — originally known as ‘Darbar Garh’ built by Raja Dhruv Dev and later expanded by Dogra Maharajas — into a heritage hotel sparked intense backlash from Jammu city residents. Sunny Dua, a renowned journalist, photographer and explorer’s recent exhibition showcasing the dying Dogra heritage and architecture also revealed that for decades the successive political parties within J&K and at the Centre have failed to preserve it.
Environmental challenges are also becoming more pressing. Climate activist Anmol Ohri warns, “Development projects threatening natural resources, such as the destruction of Raika forest, could result in Jammu losing its ecological ‘lungs,’ potentially mirroring the environmental degradation seen in Delhi.”
The real battleground
Jammu unlike Kashmir, has a mixed demography, with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and other communities living in a delicate balance. The issues of governance, infrastructure, education and job creation are going to be critical in determining the electoral outcomes here.
Many observers believe that Jammu’s voice will be the deciding factor in shaping the next government. With a higher voter turnout traditionally seen in Jammu as compared to the valley, it is likely that the region’s political leanings will weigh heavily in determining the assembly’s composition.
Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness a notably inclusive election, with around 35,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits eligible to vote at special polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur, and Delhi. This marks a key step in their reintegration into the democratic process. However, despite this progress, there is still no clear roadmap for their return to the valley. Kashmiri Pandits residing in Jagti have also expressed concerns, accusing the government of neglecting their issues and needs.
As the first phase of J&K assembly elections has concluded on September 18 with record voter turnout in some constituencies, one thing is certain — the real contest is not just in Kashmir, but in Jammu. It’s time the media and the country shift their focus and acknowledge the region’s concerns, issues and central role in shaping the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kanwal Singh is a policy analyst from J&K.
