Politics, at its core, is a negotiation of trust, a fragile and invisible currency that sustains alliances even in the face of ideological divergence. The unfolding episode between the National Conference (NC) and the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir over the denial of a “safe seat” in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections is a case study in how that trust can erode under the weight of ambition, miscommunication, and political insecurity. While both parties remain formally aligned under the broader umbrella of the INDIA bloc, the cracks are now visible enough to raise serious questions about the cohesion and strategic maturity of the opposition front in one of India’s most politically sensitive regions.
The National Conference’s decision to withhold the seat promised, or at least expected, by the Congress has done more than upset electoral arithmetic. It has symbolically ruptured the collaborative spirit that the INDIA bloc claims to represent. Tariq Hameed Karra’s assertion that NC’s “backtracking” suggests a re-evaluation of its place in the alliance may sound like political posturing, but it is rooted in a legitimate grievance. When coalition partners begin to question each other’s sincerity, the alliance ceases to be about common purpose and becomes an arena of tactical survival.
To understand this dispute, one must recognize that both the NC and Congress operate under competing compulsions. For the NC, which enjoys a dominant position in the J&K Assembly, the Rajya Sabha seats are not merely a matter of representation but a demonstration of revived political strength post-2019. For the Congress, which is attempting a cautious political re-entry in the region, a symbolic victory, even if through alliance support, would have reaffirmed its relevance. By denying Congress a “safe” seat, the NC may have won a short-term tactical advantage, but at the potential cost of weakening the broader narrative of opposition unity. However, it would be simplistic to paint this as an act of betrayal alone. The NC, in fairness, could argue that its decision stems from electoral pragmatism. With its strength in the Assembly, it might believe that it has earned the right to prioritize its own candidates. Politics is not a charitable enterprise; it is a competition for influence. Yet the counterpoint is equally persuasive. If alliances are to mean anything, they must be built on reciprocity. The Congress’s restraint in fielding candidates despite its discontent shows a certain maturity, but it also exposes a recurring pattern where regional allies tend to marginalize national partners once immediate objectives are met.
The larger question, therefore, goes beyond the NC-Congress dispute. It speaks to the internal contradictions within the INDIA bloc itself, an alliance that thrives on shared opposition to the BJP but often struggles to articulate a shared vision of governance. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has become a microcosm of the alliance’s national challenge: balancing regional assertion with collective strategy. If the bloc cannot manage coordination in a four-seat election, what confidence can voters place in its ability to govern cohesively at the national level?
From a broader perspective, the episode also highlights how coalition politics in Jammu and Kashmir remain deeply transactional. Since the abrogation of Article 370, political legitimacy in the region has become a fiercely contested space, where every seat and every symbol carries heightened significance. The NC, as a party rooted in Kashmir’s historical identity, seeks to reclaim lost political ground. The Congress, attempting to rebuild trust among voters, views alliances as instruments of inclusion rather than control. When these objectives collide, friction is inevitable. But in the current context, friction has turned into fissure, threatening to reshape political alignments in unpredictable ways.
To some observers, the NC’s decision may represent a recalibration rather than a rupture, a reminder that alliances must evolve to reflect changing ground realities. Yet for many others, it is a warning sign that the INDIA bloc’s architecture remains unstable, held together more by convenience than conviction. If the opposition truly aims to present itself as a credible alternative, it must learn to manage its internal contradictions with greater discipline and transparency.
What this moment demands from both the NC and Congress is introspection, not escalation. They must decide whether their shared opposition to the BJP is a matter of principle or mere electoral arithmetic. In politics, trust is not given; it is earned, tested, and sometimes rebuilt. The refusal of a seat may appear trivial in the grand scheme of power, but its symbolism runs deep. It reflects how fragile alliances can be when political ego overshadows collective purpose.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir, weary of polarization and promises, deserve a politics that prioritizes coherence over confrontation. The INDIA bloc’s future in the region, and perhaps its credibility nationwide, will depend on whether its leaders can rise above tactical maneuvering and rediscover the moral logic of partnership. Political strength does not come from the number of seats one controls but from the depth of trust one commands.
– Mehboob Dar, Political Analyst
Disclaimer: The opinions, interpretations, and perspectives expressed in this editorial are solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or official position of Bold News or its editorial team.