J&K Cabinet reshuffle

The Cabinet reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir has attracted special attention despite the BJP’s protestations that this is a very normal thing in any democratic setup. The state can have a maximum of 25 ministers. A rejig of one-third of the Council of Ministers suggests this was no ordinary exercise, especially when bulk of the new entrants are from the BJP that has struggled to contain the fallout of the Kathua episode. While two ministers had to pay with their jobs for participating in the rally of those accused of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl, Nirmal Singh lost his perch as Deputy Chief Minister for doing the right opposite.

No one had any illusions that the BJP-PDP alliance will be tested on a daily basis especially because they differ on the Sangh Parivar’s three core politico-religious aims: deletion of Article 370, the building of the Ram Mandir and a uniform civil code. The alliance, however, has also failed to click on issues of greater importance in the daily lives of the people. Half-way through its term and with the gulf widening following the Kathua incident, the revamped arrangement headed by CM Mehbooba Mufti needs to take serious stock of the Rs 80,000 crore economic package by PM Modi for road infrastructure, tourism and health. Effective implementation of this package is crucial for this government that has little say over the management of the security situation. The reshuffle has little relevance for the Kashmir valley and absolutely none for meeting pending democratic obligations such as conducting the long-stalled panchayat and two Lok Sabha polls.

The stalemate in the security situation requires a major push towards talks and reconciliation, an idea that does not appear improbable after the Modi-Xi talks and the summit between the two Koreas. Since the Kathua incident has shown than the emotional divide between Jammu and the Valley is near unbridgeable, the task between the two unlikely partners is to make the best of a difficult partnership. However, just like the generous economic package, J&K also needs focused attention from Delhi.