Has Pakistan pushed forward Jamaat-e-Islami to join hands with Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party and field its members as independent candidates in the Jammu-Kashmir Assembly Election 2024? What are the reasons for the Islamist organisation that fought an election for the last time in 1987, suddenly coming forward to join the electoral fray? The banned organization which was once regarded as the political outfit of Hizbul Mujahideen, renounced militancy and expressed its faith in the Indian Constitution. Has Jamaat-e-Islami changed its strategy to take advantage of the Indian political system to make inroads into the Indian state or has it realised the futility of violence in resolving the thorny issue of Jammu and Kashmir?

Why Did Jamaat-e-Islami Shun Violence?

Jamaat-e-Islami held an election rally first time since the 1987 assembly elections. That was the last time this organisation participated in the electoral politics of the state, after which it adopted the policy of advocating militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Will JEI Fill The Void?

Speaking at the public rally on Sunday, Jamaat-backed independent candidate Sayar Ahmad Reshi emphasised the need to fill a ‘vacuum created by the mainstream political parties.’ He has come to the electoral fray challenging Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader MY Tarigami, who has held the Kulgam seat since 1996. Though the communist party has supported the demand for greater autonomy, it has never backed militancy.

Jamaat Backs Independent Candidates

Jamaat-e-Islami has supported independent candidates Dr. Talat Majeed, Sayar Ahmad Reshi, and Nazir Ahmad for the first phase of the elections, and Ajaz Ahmad Mir, after he was denied a ticket by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Another interesting twist in the political dynamics is the equation between the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Awami Ittehad Party. The parties that have opposed the Indian state and supported the militants in one way or the other have joined hands to make their presence felt in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024.

Jamaat-Engineer Rashid Make A Tango

The alliance between the two pro-militancy outfits has unruffled the feathers and is poised to create disruption. Former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah earlier welcomed Jamaat-e-Islami’s decision to participate in the elections, only to criticise it later. Taking a dig at the JEI, the National Conference Vice President taunted at it. He said, ‘It was previously said that elections are ‘haram’. Well, better late than never. Now, elections are considered halal and everyone is encouraged to participate.’ He said further ‘the change in Jamaat-e-Islami’s political stance over the past 30-35 years is not a bad thing.’

Mehbooba Mufti Taunts At Jamaat

Indirectly attacking the Jamaat, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said sarcastically, ‘JeI is banned, isn’t it? I’m not sure if it’s JeI contesting or if it’s agencies. Jamaat must clarify this.’

What Did People’s Conference Say?

People’s Conference’s Sajjad Gani Lone took to social media platform X to write in a post that he was extremely pleased if the news of some individuals affiliated with JeI contesting elections was true. He said ‘@JKPCOfficial and Jamaat have coexisted in the mainstream political space prior to 1989.’
He also said, ‘We rarely agreed politically and often fought each other bitterly in elections.’ Talking about the ideologically differences between the two parties, he said there was never an overlap, but many their prominent leaders spent years in jail, often sharing cells with his late father.

JEI Targets National Conference

Political analysts still recall that Jamaat joined electoral politics to avenge the attack by the National Conference and their defeat at the hands of the Farooq Abdullah-led party allegedly by widespread rigging in 1986. However, soon it realised that it would become irrelevant if it did not shun violence and so distanced itself from those toting the guns in 1997.

Jamaat Facing War Within

However, many people, particularly those belonging to the young generation are not happy with Jamaar’s decision to fight the election and pleading with the union government to lift the ban. The political analysts believe these are the people who were born and brought up in the post-1987 era. They don’t understand that the Jamaat, which has been the pro-Islamic fulcrum of anti-India politics has now tired. These are the people who profess an ideology that demands Sharia to be the law of the land.
With an increasing number of young pro-Shariat people who are angry after the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent lockdown, JEI is fighting a war within its organisation and it has to take everyone on board. If it fails to do so, the Jamaat will face another split, making it further weak.