Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appears to be moving closer to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a significant departure from his earlier stance where he often held the saffron party responsible for “destroying” the region.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Omar was a vocal critic of the BJP, blaming them for exacerbating tensions in the Muslim-majority region and ignoring the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He frequently accused the BJP of stoking divisiveness and scoffed at their ‘Sankalp Patra’ manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, describing it as aimed at the ‘destruction’ of the erstwhile state.
However, recent statements and actions by the chief minister suggest a noticeable shift in his political positioning. Just three months after coming to power, Omar praised PM Modi for J&K’s development and held a peaceful election when the prime minister inaugurated the Rs 2700 crore Sonamarg tunnel on January 13, 2025.
In October 2024, shortly after winning the election, Omar publicly stated that the government in Jammu and Kashmir “needs to have coordination with the Centre,” acknowledging that “many issues of J&K can’t be resolved by fighting with the Centre”. This pragmatic remark marks a departure from his earlier confrontational approach towards the BJP-led government at the Centre.
Omar’s move towards a more conciliatory tone was also evident in November 2024, when his party, the National Conference (NC), passed a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. The resolution, while reaffirming the importance of the region’s special status, was noticeably more cautious. His father and NC president, Farooq Abdullah, has also voiced support for a cooperative approach, stating, “The J&K government can’t fight with the Centre”.
The perception of growing closeness between the NC and the BJP has raised eyebrows among Omar’s rivals. In response, he sought to clarify his position, saying, “There are no discussions, nor is there any scope or need for an alliance with the BJP. Our views on Jammu and Kashmir are completely different, and we will discuss all issues during the session”.
Despite Omar’s clarification, the shift in tone has not gone unnoticed. J&K People’s Conference leader and legislator Sajjad Lone questioned the chief minister’s new approach, saying, “During the election campaign it was all about Article 370 and how all others are with BJP. And now, the ideological overlap. What a comedown”. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Parra also criticized Omar for changing the political discourse after coming to power, accusing him of downgrading it to statehood and failing to advocate for the restoration of Article 370, the release of political prisoners, and reconciliation as promised in the NC’s election manifesto.
Political analyst Javid Trali pointed out that Omar’s shift may reflect a recognition of the new political realities following the abrogation of Article 370. “Omar knows his limitations as CM of a Union Territory and seems to prefer a conciliatory path rather than confrontation with the Centre”.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether Omar will soften his stance further or return to a more confrontational approach if the Centre fails to reciprocate.
