||Black and White Digital News||

||October 17,2024 ||

Jammu : A dramatic shift in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape unfolded yesterday as Independent MLA from Chhamb, Satish Sharma, took oath as a minister in Omar Abdullah’s new Cabinet. While the ceremony marked a moment of triumph for Sharma, it cast a shadow of disappointment over the Congress leadership, whose strategic missteps in the Chhamb Assembly segment are now being felt at the highest levels.

Satish Sharma’s ascension to ministerial office has sent shockwaves through the Congress, with party stalwarts like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra left regretting their decision to withhold the party mandate from Sharma in favor of former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. This decision not only cost the Congress a vital Assembly seat but has also seen their exclusion from the new council of ministers in Omar Abdullah’s government.

The Revolt That Changed It All :

Denied the Congress ticket for the Chamb constituency, Satish Sharma defied party orders, raised the banner of revolt, and contested the elections as an Independent candidate. His daring gamble paid off as he defeated Tara Chand, relegating the former Deputy Chief Minister to a humiliating third place, and securing a decisive victory. Sharma’s success not only sent shockwaves through the Congress ranks but also positioned him as the only non-BJP Hindu MLA from the Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, and Reasi districts.

Sources within political circles reveal that National Conference leader Omar Abdullah seized the opportunity created by the Congress’ internal strife. Rather than bend to Congress’ demands, Abdullah played his cards wisely, opting to induct Sharma into his Cabinet over the deeply divided Congress. The result is a major blow to Congress’ influence in the region.

A Senior Congress Leader’s Lament :

“Had Congress given the mandate to Satish Sharma on the Chhamb Assembly segment, the situation would have been entirely different in today’s oath-taking ceremony,” a senior Congress leader admitted to Black and White Digital News. He further added that the decision to favor Tara Chand, a veteran politician with diminishing appeal, over the budding and popular Sharma, has cost the party dearly. This miscalculation is now being felt with Congress sitting on the sidelines as Omar Abdullah moves ahead with his new government.

Congress Offers Excuses, but the Reality Bites:

Despite the gloomy atmosphere among Congress leaders, the party is attempting to downplay the significance of the situation. JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra announced that Congress would not be joining the new government, citing the central government’s failure to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as the primary reason. Karra reiterated that the denial of statehood, a promise made multiple times by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remains a sticking point for Congress. “We will continue to fight for the restoration of statehood,” Karra assured, emphasizing that the party’s struggle is far from over.

However, political observers believe that the underlying cause of Congress’ exclusion from the Cabinet lies in their internal discord. The National Conference, having secured a comfortable majority with 42 members and the backing of five Independent MLAs, including Satish Sharma, found itself in a position where Congress’ support was no longer essential.

Sources indicate that Congress had initially sought two ministerial berths in the new Cabinet, but the National Conference, unwilling to yield to Congress’ demands, offered only one. With three of the six Congress MLAs vying for the lone position, the party’s leadership found itself in a bind. Instead of risking further internal conflict, Congress opted to offer outside support to the government while abstaining from joining the ministry.

A Costly Misstep for Congress :

The fallout from the Chhamb election debacle continues to haunt Congress. By ignoring Satish Sharma’s growing popularity and favoring Tara Chand, the party not only lost a key seat but also missed out on playing a major role in the new government. The emergence of Satish Sharma as a significant political player has reshaped the dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir, and Congress, grappling with internal divisions, finds itself left out in the cold.

While the Congress leadership may continue to emphasize the issue of statehood, the reality remains that their failure to manage internal party politics has diminished their influence in the region. Satish Sharma’s victory and his subsequent inclusion in Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet are stark reminders of the cost of political miscalculations.

For now, Satish Sharma stands as the rising star of the Chhamb constituency, while Congress is left grappling with the consequences of its decisions. The political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir is shifting, and Congress must recalibrate if it hopes to regain its footing in the future.

Mallikarjun Kharge

Satish Sharma