Narendra Modi's meet with J&K leaders a calibrated move, shows PM holds all aces in Valley's political process – Firstpost

It is my contention that instead of a ‘reversal’, ‘walk back’ or a ‘failed Kashmir policy’, the engagement with eight mainstream parties shows that Modi government remains in control of the political process in Kashmir and retains the advantage in negotiating with mainstream stakeholders. Pakistan’s current Kashmir debate is about finding a way out.” Ahead of the meeting, it was widely speculated that statehood will be on offer, perhaps drawing from the Modi government’s promise in Parliament that Jammu and Kashmir — that was bifurcated into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh on August 5, 2019 — will get statehood at an “appropriate time.” This was another red herring. Delimitation is of particular interest to the Modi government because along with the reading down of Article 370 and 35A and promulgation of new domicile laws, successful delimitation of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats in J&K may reorder the demographic balance of the region, give numerical advantage to Jammu and irreversibly upend the closed-loop politics that has established Valley’s hegemonic hold over the political process. It wasn’t a surprise to note that days after Modi’s engagement with J&K political leaders, the Delimitation Commission on Wednesday decided in a meeting that it will be visiting the UT from July 6 to July 9, “and interact with political parties, public representatives and state government officials for redrawing of boundaries of existing Assembly seats.” The panel will also carve constituencies to be reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes for the first time in J&K, according to reports.