Five years after Article 370’s abrogation, the region faces governance hurdles, highlighting the urgent need for equitable power-sharing and meaningful democratic reforms to ensure stability and public trust
On August 5, 2019, the Indian government made one of the most important political decisions in the country’s history by abrogating Article 370. This article gave Jammu and Kashmir special status, allowing it to have its own constitution and significant autonomy. With its removal, Jammu and Kashmir lost its special status and was divided into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The move was seen by many as a bold step towards peace, unity, and the reintegration of the region with the rest of India, after years of terrorism, violence, and hardship.
It took five years for this historic decision to settle in. In September 2024, Jammu and Kashmir finally held long-awaited elections, reviving hope and democratic spirit among the people. Omar Abdullah from the J&K National Conference became the Chief Minister, while Manoj Sinha continued as the Lieutenant Governor. For many citizens, this marked a turning point—an opportunity to restore faith in democratic governance and have a leader chosen by them, for them.
However, the recent elections in Jammu and Kashmir have left many disillusioned. Although a Chief Minister has been elected, real executive power remains with the Lieutenant Governor, an appointee of the central government. This reflects an uneven version of India’s “Dual Headship” model, where the constitutional head (Governor or Lieutenant Governor) and the elected Chief Minister are meant to share power. In practice, the balance is tilted heavily toward central authority.
Many view the elections as a showpiece aimed at projecting normalcy, rather than a true restoration of democratic governance, deepening the gap between public expectations and political reality.
The current system of dual leadership in Jammu and Kashmir, where the elected Chief Minister coexists with the centrally appointed Lieutenant Governor, was intended to be a temporary arrangement until full statehood is restored, as mandated by the Supreme Court. However, delays by the ruling party at the Centre have prolonged this setup, leading to governance challenges and growing public frustration. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been vocal about the inefficiencies of this dual structure, especially given the sensitive geopolitical position of Jammu and Kashmir, bordered by both China and Pakistan. Describing it as a “recipe for disaster”, Abdullah argues that no institution can function effectively with multiple power centres.
Since this governance model began, there have been many conflicts between the two power centres, often caused by ego clashes, differing interests and delays in decision making. One recent case in Rajouri saw several people die from a mysterious illness. Efforts to transfer patients to Chandigarh were delayed due to a lack of quick approval from central authorities, showing the risks of poor coordination. Tensions rose again when the J&K government made Urdu a must for the recruitment of revenue officials. The ruling BJP party, especially in Jammu, opposed this, saying it was unfair and that the Lieutenant Governor should have been consulted. These events highlight the ongoing power struggle between local autonomy and the central government.
The ongoing blame game between the two power centres has resulted in administrative dysfunction, undermining effective governance and ultimately hurting the very people this system is meant to serve.
To address this problem, one window could be the restoration of statehood as previously promised by the central government, which would lead to the vesting of powers into a single authority that is the state government. An alternate solution would be to distribute powers and responsibilities fairly and equally between the two entities. Such a balance would prevent either side from dominating the other, thereby safeguarding the integrity of democratic governance.
Achieving stable and effective governance in Jammu and Kashmir requires a strong commitment to democratic values and transparent policymaking. With an equitable division of authority and coordination between the Central and State governments, the current model can be reshaped into a solid foundation for lasting peace and sustainable development.
The writer is a Political Science student at the University of Delhi
Sheikh Faaiz
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