Omar Abdullah’s Jammu Shift

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah this week began his working from Jammu civil secretariat, therefore marking the beginning for the restoration of Darbar move. Darbar move an age old practice was a tradition attached with socio economic values. The people and the business community had hopes and expectations attached to the move which was revoked in 2019 after Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of special privileges under article 370. The Union Government which was governing the Union Territory termed the move as a wastage of public exchequer and said that throughout the year adminstration could function at both the places without the formal shifting of chair. This has brought a massive resentment among the people representing the business fraternity of Jammu who claimed their businesses suffered massive losses as people from Kashmir stopped migrating to Jammu in winters. Now the Omar Abdullah as per his party’s pre poll agenda decided to restore the practice. Omar’s decision of restoring the Darbar move has a potential political outreach in Jammu where BJP marked a huge performance securing 29 assembly seats. JKNC led by Omar Abdullah on the other hand swept Kashmir region and formed the government. Omar is eyeing now to reclaim the fort in Jammu and will take all possible steps to restore the faith among people. He even granted a portfolio of Deputy Chief Minister to Surinder Chowdhury of his party who defeated Ravinder Raina- BJP president in Jammu and Kashmir. Traditionally, JKNC never lost Jammu and was always on forefront with significant base of political workers. Omar’s move to shift Jammu in winters is his political choice and wants the course correction to ensure in next elections JKNC doesn’t face whitewash at the hands of BJP. He chooses the restoration of Darbar move despite knowing the fact that he enjoys less powers compared to Raj Bhawan. BJP at the same time is in a tough situation. While on one side all the decisions that they are against now were taken by Delhi government run by BJP. Secondly, they are not in power. Omar is building political bridges in Jammu instead of aiming to resume the administrative functioning.