The banned outfit Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir is preparing to field candidates as independents in the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
A meeting held by members of the organisation on Saturday confirmed the decision to have former members contest from various constituencies, with final candidate selection scheduled for Sunday.
The meeting also resolved to nominate candidates in several South Kashmir constituencies, including Bijbehara in Anantnag district, Zainapora in Shopian, and Pulwama.
“These regions have traditionally supported Jamaat, and we are hopeful of performing well in the elections,” a member of the group stated.
Despite the Central government's ban on Jamaat for its "activities against the security, integrity, and sovereignty of the nation," the group is moving forward with its plans.
Ghulam Qadir Lone, a former member of the party, previously indicated that Jamaat was considering entering mainstream politics by nominating its candidates in J&K, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, provided the Ministry of Home Affairs considered lifting the ban on the outfit.
However, on Friday, the UAPA Tribunal, constituted by the MHA, extended the ban imposed by the ministry. Despite this, members of the outfit have made it clear that they will contest the polls as independent candidates, demonstrating their commitment to the Indian Constitution.
After the UAPA Tribunal announced its verdict on Friday, members expressed their disappointment.
“This is an unfortunate development. By running as independents, we want to show both the public and the government that Jamaat stands for genuine aspirations and peace,” said a member of the outfit.
Jamaat officially contested elections in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1960s and 1970s. However, internal dissent led to a reconsideration of its decision to enter mainstream politics.
By the late 1980s, the outfit decided to cease its political activities and focus more on its religious and social agenda, especially after the rise of militancy in the region.
A significant turning point in the history of J&K and Jamaat occurred during the 1987 elections, when the National Conference and the Congress, then ruling at the centre, were accused of rigging the elections.
Two years later, militancy surfaced in J&K, and since then, Jamaat-e-Islami has been viewed as the ideological force behind the militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.
With the political landscape altered after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, it remains to be seen how Jamaat's participation in the elections might influence the future of Jammu and Kashmir's politics.
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