In byzantine democratic processes, political manifestos seem to be quite an important string that connects the aspirations of people, Raunak, M. S., Chen, B., Elssamadisy, A., Clarke, L. A., & Osterweil, L. J. (2006). Usually, little attention is paid to them in this cacophony of campaign speeches, but they also hold an important position in shaping the democratic scene and voicing out concerns of a voter. Nowhere is it more evident than in places with a history of political complexities, as is so in Jammu and Kashmir.

For a long period, the erstwhile state, now a union territory, Jammu and Kashmir, has been that crossroads in the matrix of geopolitics and internal struggle, where the democratic structures are put to tests and political representation finds challenges. In this regard, election manifestos have emerged as powerful tools by which political parties can put forward their vision for the region and for gauging the commitment of would-be representatives before the people.

The political manifestos of Jammu and Kashmir have seen a transformation over time, just like the changing outlook of the political stage of this region, Kumar, R., & Puri, E. (2009). The initial decades after India’s independence saw the manifestos mainly dealing with matters concerning the integration of the state with the Indian Union and safeguarding the special status of the region via Article 370 of the Constitution of India. Parties like Sheikh Abdullah’s National Conference would articulate manifestos that centered on regional autonomy with a connection to the central government.

As the separatist movements and militancy increased during the 1980s and 1990s, when the political atmosphere became too complicated, the manifestos started talking about security, peace, and reconciliation. The PDP, formed in 1999, stressed on “self-rule”-a concept that promised more autonomy to the region without surrendering its place within the Indian Union-through its manifesto. This approach appealed to many voters who wanted neither separatism nor full integration.

The BJP, which has drawn handsome gains in the recent past, particularly in the Jammu region, made its manifestos serve as a promise for economic development, national integration, and the abolition of Article 370. The fulfillment of this last promise in August 2019 marked a watershed moment in the region’s history, demonstrating the possible influence of manifesto promises on real-world politics.

The 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections present one interesting study of how manifestos can influence an electoral result. This promise in the PDP’s manifesto of being a bridge between the state and the center appealed to votes from those who wanted stability and the development process. A promise from the party to start a dialogue with all stakeholders from separatists has appealed to the peace-hungry. In contrast, the manifesto of the BJP in the state of Jammu mainly carried messages of growth in the economy and fighting corruption, which eventuated in a split verdict and an unlikely coalition between the two parties.

But the real test of a manifesto is not necessarily won in the elections but in its implementation. The impact of manifestos goes beyond electoral politics over Jammu and Kashmir. Manifestos have been deployed to frame public discourse and set an agenda for political debate. Everything from rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits to revoking AFSPA and developing infrastructure is generally on the agenda through party manifestos.
Besides this, manifestos have been used as tools for articulation by marginalized sections. The parties now add promises where the specific interests of different communities, such as Gujjars, Bakerwals, and other communities, will be addressed and framed in the manifesto. This has not only brought into mainstream discourse the wishes and needs of these communities but also introduced a flavor of inclusiveness in the democracies.
The digital age has further increased the role of manifestos in shaping democracy because of increased access to information. Jammu and Kashmir voters can now scrutinize party promises more closely than ever before. As such, an electorate becomes more informed. Social media platforms are being used for debate and discussion, and this can become more participatory forms of democracy.

But the story of Jammu and Kashmir also highlights difficulties in conflict areas, where manifestos find it difficult to remain relevant, Chowdhary, R. (2015). The trust deficit between people and the political institutions normally leads to skepticism regarding manifesto promises. Parties have a long way ahead in establishing credibility and proving themselves in delivery of pledged commitments.

In the foreseeable future, as the state of Jammu and Kashmir enters a new status as a union territory, it would be the contesting manifestos that would decide on the definite form in which its future would take. Revival of statehood for the region and economic revival post-COVID-19 would continue to be dominant issues at the forefront. The contesting parties must ensure protection of land rights for local residents, too. The translation of promises into action by these manifestos is the litmus test for democratic processes in this region.

Political manifestos represent something much more than simple campaign documents; they are in fact lifeblood to representative democracy. They represent the bridge between the aspirations of people and the actions of their representatives; they shape the political discourse and hand over influence over policy decisions. Their actual standard of accomplishment will be their capacity to change the political sky and bring palpable improvements in people’s lives, Chowdhary, R., & VNagendra, R. A. O. (2004).

References

Chowdhary, R., & VNagendra, R. A. O. (2004). Jammu and Kashmir. Economic and Political Weekly, 5449.

Chowdhary, R. (2015). Democratic processes in the context of separatism and political divergence: An analysis of 2014 Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Studies in Indian Politics, 3(2), 164-178.

Kumar, R., & Puri, E. (2009). Jammu and Kashmir. Negotiating Peace in Deeply Divided Societies: A Set of Simulations. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 247-355. Raunak, M. S., Chen, B., Elssamadisy, A., Clarke, L. A., & Osterweil, L. J. (2006). Definition and analysis of election processes. In Software Process Change: International Software Process Workshop and International Workshop on Software Process Simulation and Modeling, SPW/ProSim 2006, Shanghai, China, May 20-21, 2006. Proceedings (pp. 178-185). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.