SRINAGAR: In a significant political realignment in Jammu and Kashmir, three regional outfits have announced the formation of a new coalition aimed at reshaping the political narrative in the Union Territory. The newly launched front People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) brings together Sajad Gani Lone’s People’s Conference, Hakeem Yasin’s People’s Democratic Front, and the Justice and Development Front (JDF), which is backed by a faction of Jamaat-e-Islami and had contested the 2024 Assembly elections.
The announcement came during a press conference on Monday, with Sajad Lone flanked by Hakeem Yasin and Shamim Ahmad Thoker, the founding head of JDF. Thoker’s outfit had fielded multiple candidates in last year’s elections under the banner of independents but failed to secure any victories.
Addressing the media, Lone emphasized the coalition’s mission to break the status quo. “People here have gone through years of hardship. This alliance is a serious attempt to provide a meaningful alternative in a vacuum of effective governance,” he said.
Thoker stressed the importance of collective effort, stating, “No individual party can address the aspirations of the people in isolation. Cooperation is essential if we want to genuinely serve the public.”
Despite limited electoral strength at present, the People’s Conference only secured a single seat in Handwara during the 2024 polls, political observers suggest the new front could influence outcomes in certain regions. Lone’s party maintains localized support in Kupwara and parts of Baramulla, while Jamaat-e-Islami, despite its ban, has retained ideological influence across the Valley.
However, skepticism surrounds the role of JDF. A segment of Jamaat’s senior leadership and grassroots members have refused to endorse Thoker’s political venture, suspecting it to be a state-sponsored project rather than an organic political movement.
Even as the alliance begins outreach to expand its base, it remains to be seen whether it can translate this new partnership into electoral gains or overcome internal dissent from sections of Jamaat’s traditional support base.
