About Jammu and Kashmir National Conference
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) is a regional political party of India. Its mass base is primarily in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The JKNC operates on the ideology of Moderate Separatism, and the re-unification of Kashmir. This is a political
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who was famously known as the ‘Lion of Kashmir’, was elected the President of the JKNC in 1947. Under his able leadership, the atrocities of the Kashmir Maharaja at Poonch, who ruled the state during that time, were fiercely revolted against. Gaining complete support of the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, Sheikh Abdullah demanded a ‘Naya Kashmir’. As he said, "Kashmiris want to decide about their future in a calm and tranquil atmosphere. Their has not to be decided by the Maharaja and his cohorts; but by the people of the state. The people there can only be in a position to decide when they first achieve their internal freedom."
Sheikh Abdullah merged with the Indira Gandhi-led Congress (I) in 1965, hence becoming the J&K branch of the Congress. Abdullah became the Chief Minister of the state after the JKNC won the majority seats in the state legislative assembly. Farooq Abdullah replaced his father Sheikh Abdullah as the party president, after the latter’s death. Farooq remained the JKNC President from 1981 to 2002 before his son Omar Abdullah became the party chief. In 2009, Farooq was again made the president of the JKNC. The JKNC has won the state legislative assembly elections for a majority of the terms. Presently, the JKNC by defeating the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party and in alliance with the Congress, has formed the government in the state. Omar Abdullah is the current Chief Minister of J&K.
Election Symbol and its Significance
The Election Symbol of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, as approved by the Election Commission of India, is "Plough". It is usually drawn on a red-coloured flag, which together represents the JKNC. This symbol of the party was unanimously adopted in its first annual conference held in Baramulla in 1940. It was presided by the then party chief Sardar Budh Singh. As a political party in the country, the JKNC abides by the sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic principles and ideals of the Constitution of India. It propagates the true values of socialist doctrines and the legacy of the freedom struggle of India to people, irrespective of any social and political differences.In its official website, the JKNC preaches the last Testament by their founder Sheikh Abdullah or Sher-I-Kashmir, "Only that accession will endure which is acceptable to the hearts of the people. People’s hearts can be won only by love, justice, truthfulness and sincerity and not with subsidized rice, army and offering largesse." The JKNC stands for the values of individual liberty and non-violent peaceful dissent. It claims to represent the voice of the peasants, farmers and marginalized, oppressed sections of the society. The love of the people of the state is primary according to the aims and objectives of the JKNC.
Leaders of the JKNC
The leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, who are also the national executives of the party, are listed below:- Farooq Abdullah, President of the JKNC
Farooq Abdullah is a doctor by profession and remained the Chief Minister of the state of J&K on many occasions. He holds the post of a Cabinet Minister of New and Renewable Energy in the 2009 UPA government. He represents the Srinagar-Budgam constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha. He also served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for multiple times. Presently he is the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. - Omar Abdullah, Working President of the JKNC
Omar Abdullah is the present Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He remained the President of JKNC from 2002 to 2009. Presently he is the working president of the party. Omar remained a Union Minister of State for External Affairs during the JKNC alliance with the NDA. He remained a Member of Parliament, in the 14th Lok Sabha. - Mustafa Kamal, Additional General Secretary of JKNC
He is the brother of Farooq Abdullah. He has been Member of the Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. - Mehboob Beg, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Beg represents the Anantmag-Shopian constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha. - S.D. Sharik, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Sharik represents the Baramulla-Kopwara constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha. - Mohammad Shafi Uri, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
He is also the chief spokesperson of the party. - Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.
Achievements of the Party
As a regional political party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has a number of significant achievements. Some of them are listed below:- The JKNC has continually worked for the restoration of internal peace between the different factions within the state. It strongly objects the formation of any barrier between the two halves of the state of J&K. The JKNC is in complete support of attaining a lasting negotiation to solve the problems between India, Pakistan and the State of J&K, making all the three regions equally competent in progress and development.
- Sheikh Abdullah had initiated the policy of single-line administration in the state. This concept was people-centric, involving people in the day to day administration of the state, and take the government to the people, and not the people to the government.
- To maintain its secular identity, the JKNC has implemented policies and schemes for the Kashmiri pundits as well the maulvis. It has built colleges and universities for women and reserved categories of the population, thereby paying attention to the issues of minority rights.
- The Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state have been greatly enhanced by the JKNC, providing empowerment to many lakhs of Kashmiri residents. Allocation of funds is made to the local administrations, such as the revenue department, food department etc., in order to ensure their smooth functioning.
- The JKNC had an important role to play in its say against the AFPSA being implemented in the state of J&K, which would kill innocent civilians.
Contact Details and Address
Official Website of JKNC: http://www.jknc.in/Head-Office Address of JKNC: Mujahid Manzil Srinagar, Nawa-i-Subh Complex Zero Bridge Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
Contact Numbers: +(91) (194) 2452326 (Kashmir), +(91) (0191) 2578010 (Jammu)
Email id: [email protected]
JKNC Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha Election Results Year Wise
| Lok Sabha | Vidhan Sabha | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Latest Year | Seats Won | Latest Year | Seats Won | ||
| Jammu & Kashmir | 2019 | 3 | 2019 | 15 | ||
Last Updated on March 10, 2015