New alliance in Valley: Sajad Lone, Jamaat faction join hands to push for J&K statehood

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have endured immense suffering and we are committed to driving change,” Lone said, adding that the alliance would offer a “viable alternative” in a “barren political landscape”.

We cannot succeed alone, Thoker said, adding that there must be unity to “serve people effectively”.

The alliance has signed a “Declaration of Change”, outlining its agenda and its need to come together.

“Recognizing the deep yearning for justice, dignity, and real empowerment across Jammu and Kashmir, the JKPC and the JDF have decided to come together in an act of historic unity to declare a new path forward, a Declaration for Change rooted in hope, responsibility, and transformation,” reads the document. “In order to set in motion a process which scripts a pathway to change, the JKPC and the JDF have decided to come together and work for change,” it adds.

While calling all sections of society “to join this journey of change”, the declaration says that the alliance believes in restoration of J&K’s special status and statehood and will “strive and exhaust all political means in pursuit of these objectives”.

“Irrespective of our ideological differences, we have decided to explore overlaps and move on in a spirit of togetherness,” the declaration says.

“This would entail an alliance, which would fight together electorally and have a common strategy for societal issues. This would be the start not the end. We would approach other like-minded parties to join the alliance in pursuit of change.”

The PAC has been forged when the Budgam Assembly bypoll and the civicbody elections are round the corner in J&K.

Though the alliance partners have little presence on the ground separately, their partnership could impact the electoral outcomes in some seats. Lone’s Handwara seat was the only seat his party won in the 2024 Assembly polls.

The Jamaat-backed candidates failed to win any seat despite contesting 10 seats as Independents. Yasin, who had earlier won the Khansahib Assembly seat twice as an Independent, lost to the National Conference (NC) candidate in 2024.

While Lone’s party has pockets of influence, especially in the frontier district of Kupwara, Pattan Assembly constituency in Baramulla, and some Shia-dominated areas, the Jamaat has its presence across the Kashmir Valley.

However, it is to be seen if the Jamaat cadre, and its sympathisers, rally behind the JDF. In 2024 elections, the candidates backed by the Jamat faction forfieted their deposits even in its traditional strongholds barring Kulgam in South Kashmir. Many Jamaat leaders and activists have distanced themselves from the JDF.