Kashmir’s Dynasty Politics: Seven Decades of Betrayal and Broken Promises

The Red Apple Metaphor: How Kashmir’s Leaders Feast and Flee

By: Javid Amin | 06 October 2025

Elections in Kashmir arrive like monsoon floods—dramatic, disruptive, and ultimately draining. Politicians descend upon the valley with garlands and grandiose slogans, feast on the “red part of the apple”—the sweet, visible fruit of public sentiment—then vanish, leaving Kashmiris to chew on the bitter peel of broken promises.

For 77 years, since 1947, Kashmir has witnessed a political theatre where dynastic actors perform empathy during campaigns, only to exit stage left when accountability comes knocking. From Sheikh Abdullah to his grandson Omar, from Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to his daughter Mehbooba and now granddaughter Iltija, political power has remained a family heirloom rather than a public trust.

This isn’t just about policy failures or administrative incompetence. This is about systematic betrayal, where generation after generation of political dynasties have weaponized Kashmiri pain, monetized identity, and institutionalized deception.

Historical Betrayals: From Hope to Hollow Promises

1947–1953: Sheikh Abdullah’s Rise and Spectacular Fall

Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, fondly known as “Sher-e-Kashmir” (Lion of Kashmir), emerged as Kashmir’s towering political figure in the 1940s. He promised autonomy, sweeping land reforms, and a secular Kashmiri identity through his vision of “Naya Kashmir” (New Kashmir).

The Promise: A self-governing Kashmir with dignity, where land would be redistributed to the tillers, education would be universal, and Kashmiri identity would flourish within a federal structure.

The Reality: After initially aligning with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and supporting Kashmir’s accession to India, Sheikh Abdullah’s relationship with Delhi deteriorated rapidly. On August 9, 1953, he was arrested and imprisoned under the infamous “Kashmir Conspiracy Case,” accused of plotting to make Kashmir independent.

The Impact: Sheikh Abdullah spent 11 years in prison. His dream of Naya Kashmir was buried under Delhi’s suspicion and internal power struggles. The arrest sent shockwaves through Kashmir—if even the Lion of Kashmir could be caged, what hope did ordinary Kashmiris have?

1975: The Indira–Sheikh Accord: A Pyrrhic Victory

After 22 years of political wilderness, Sheikh Abdullah returned to power following the 1975 Indira-Sheikh Accord with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The Promise: Restoration of political dignity, reinstatement of Sheikh as Chief Minister, and a new chapter for Kashmir.

The Reality: The accord came at a heavy price. It accepted the irreversibility of Kashmir’s accession to India and significantly diluted the spirit of Article 370, which had guaranteed Kashmir’s special autonomous status. Many provisions of the Indian Constitution that previously didn’t apply to Kashmir were now extended.

The Impact: Many Kashmiris, especially those who had resisted Indian rule for decades, felt betrayed. The accord legitimized Delhi’s tightening grip over Kashmir. Critics argued Sheikh Abdullah had sold out the very autonomy he once championed, trading Kashmir’s special status for a chief minister’s chair.

The Abdullah Dynasty: Three Generations of Power, Three Chapters of Disappointment

Farooq Abdullah: Inheriting the Throne, Losing the Trust

Farooq Abdullah inherited his father’s political legacy in 1982 but not his moral authority. While Sheikh Abdullah was forged in the fires of anti-Dogra resistance, Farooq was seen as privileged, disconnected, and increasingly as “Delhi’s man in Srinagar.”

The 1987 Elections: The Match That Lit the Insurgency

The 1987 Legislative Assembly elections witnessed widespread rigging by the ruling National Conference party. The Muslim United Front (MUF), a coalition of Islamic political parties that attracted support from pro-independence activists and disenchanted youth, was systematically denied victory despite strong public support.

Commentators believe the MUF could have won fifteen to twenty seats without rigging, a contention admitted by National Conference leaders themselves. However, they were awarded only four seats.

The Consequences Were Catastrophic:

Popular discontent in Kashmir resulting from chronic mismanagement and malfeasance exploded into armed insurgency. Young candidates who had contested democratically—including future militants—felt the electoral process had been a sham. If peaceful democratic participation was meaningless, many reasoned, what option remained?

The 1987 rigging marked the end of Kashmir’s faith in ballots. Within two years, in 1989, armed insurgency erupted. Youth who once held ballot papers now held guns. Farooq Abdullah’s complicity in or tolerance of this electoral fraud became his enduring stain—one that cost Kashmir thousands of lives in the subsequent decades.

Farooq’s Later Years: Criticism and Compromise

Farooq served multiple terms as Chief Minister but increasingly appeared as a Delhi loyalist. He joined the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government in 1999, served as Union Minister, and was often criticized for prioritizing his relationship with the Centre over Kashmir’s aspirations.

Omar Abdullah: The Modern Face of Old Politics

Omar Abdullah, Sheikh Abdullah’s grandson and Farooq’s son, represented the third generation of the Abdullah dynasty. Educated in Delhi and the UK, fluent in English, and active on social media, Omar was marketed as the modern, tech-savvy face of Kashmiri politics when he became Chief Minister in 2009 at age 38.

The 2008 Campaign: Begging for Trust

During the 2008 Assembly elections, Omar campaigned with emotional appeals, promising transparency, youth empowerment, and healing. “Give me a chance, I’ll prove I’m different,” he pleaded at rallies across Kashmir. Young voters, desperate for change, invested hope in him.

The 2010 Summer of Blood

The 2010 Kashmir Unrest resulted in 112 deaths, including many teenager protesters. The protests, triggered by the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian and subsequent police killings of protesters, shook the valley for months.

Omar Abdullah’s government responded with:

• Extended curfews that imprisoned entire populations in their homes
• Continued use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which grants military personnel immunity from prosecution
• Force against stone-pelting youth, many of whom were teenagers
• Minimal accountability for security forces

The young, modern chief minister who had begged for votes now presided over the killing of young protesters who had voted for him.

The Transformation: From Humble Supplicant to Detached Ruler

By the end of his tenure in 2014, Omar’s tone had changed dramatically. The leader who once pleaded for trust now dismissed criticism as “Twitter noise” and “armchair activism.” His government implemented development projects—roads, power infrastructure—but failed to address the fundamental political alienation that defined Kashmir’s relationship with India.

Omar’s Response to Article 370 Abrogation

When the Indian government abrogated Article 370 in August 2019, ending Kashmir’s special constitutional status and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories, Omar Abdullah and other leaders were detained. Omar Abdullah lost in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, marking a potential decline in the Abdullah dynasty’s once-unassailable dominance.

However, the presence of Omar Abdullah’s sons in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly has reignited discussions about dynastic politics and the future of democratic leadership in the region. The dynasty continues—now with whispers of the fourth generation entering politics.

The Mufti Equation: From Healing Touch to BJP’s Gateway

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: The Architect of PDP’s Rise and Fall

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a Congress veteran who served as India’s Home Minister before founding the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999. The PDP positioned itself as an alternative to the National Conference—softer on separatist sentiment, focused on “healing touch,” and promising to bridge the divide between Kashmir’s aspirations and Delhi’s security concerns.

The First Term (2002-2005): Promise of Healing

When Mufti became Chief Minister in 2002 in alliance with Congress, he promised a “healing touch” for conflict-weary Kashmir. His tenure did see some relative calm and efforts at reconciliation. However, critics noted that fundamental issues—AFSPA, mass graves, disappearances—remained unaddressed.

The 2015 Betrayal: Partnering with BJP

The real shock came after the 2014 Assembly elections. Despite campaigning aggressively against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its integrationist agenda for Kashmir, Mufti stunned the valley by forming a coalition government with the very party PDP had demonized.

The party that had built its identity on understanding Kashmir’s sentiment, that had marketed itself as the voice of those alienated from mainstream politics, had shaken hands with the BJP—a party that had always advocated ending Kashmir’s special status.

The Rationalization: Mufti and PDP leaders argued they were creating a “bridge” between Kashmir and Delhi, that only by engaging with power could they protect Kashmiri interests. Critics called it a Faustian bargain—power at the cost of principle.

Mehbooba Mufti: Kashmir’s First Woman CM and the PDP’s Collapse

When Mufti Mohammad Sayeed died in January 2016, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti inherited both the Chief Minister’s position and the impossible BJP alliance.

The 2016 Uprising: When the Valley Burned

On July 8, 2016, Burhan Wani, a young Hizbul Mujahideen militant who had become a social media icon, was killed by security forces. Kashmir exploded in protests. Curfew was imposed in all 10 districts of the valley on July 15 and mobile services were suspended.

The Pellet Gun Horror:

The use of pellet guns against protesters became a defining image of the 2016 unrest. These non-lethal weapons fired hundreds of small metal pellets, which blinded scores of Kashmiris—many of them teenagers and children. The valley became a landscape of bandaged eyes, a generation partially blinded for protesting.

Mehbooba Mufti, as Chief Minister, faced criticism for:

• Being conspicuously absent during peak unrest—reportedly in Delhi while the valley burned
• Failing to restrain security forces from excessive pellet gun use
• Continuing the alliance with BJP even as her coalition partner adopted increasingly aggressive postures on Kashmir
• Allowing the security apparatus to operate without meaningful civilian oversight

The Famous Quotes That Haunt Her:

1. “I won’t sell my father’s grave for power” – Yet she continued the BJP alliance her father had forged, even as it became increasingly toxic to PDP’s support base.
2. “Modi ji gave us a chance to dream” – This statement, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alienated many PDP supporters who saw Modi as the architect of Kashmir’s subjugation.

The Collapse:

By 2018, the PDP-BJP alliance had collapsed. PDP’s credibility as a voice of resistance or even as pragmatic intermediaries had evaporated. Mehbooba Mufti lost in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, a dramatic fall for someone once considered Kashmir’s most powerful woman politician.

Iltija Mufti: The Third Generation Emerges

Now, Mehbooba’s daughter Iltija Mufti is stepping into the political spotlight, continuing the dynastic cycle. The Sayeed-Mufti family, like the Abdullahs, has turned politics into inheritance—a family business where public office passes from father to daughter to granddaughter.

The Dynastic Pattern: A Consistent Playbook of Deception

Across party lines—National Conference, PDP, Congress, or newer entities like Apni Party—Kashmir’s political elite follow a remarkably consistent playbook:

1. Election-Time Empathy

Politicians arrive in villages and towns with folded hands, listening to grievances, promising to be different from their predecessors. “We feel your pain,” they proclaim. “We understand your alienation. Give us one chance.”

National Conference speaks of autonomy. PDP speaks of healing. Congress speaks of reconciliation. Each promises dignity, development, and democratic accountability.

2. Post-Election Amnesia

Once elected, priorities shift dramatically. “Let’s focus on development,” becomes the refrain. Roads and electricity are important, but they’re offered as substitutes for political resolution. The fundamental questions—autonomy, AFSPA, political prisoners, mass graves—get postponed indefinitely.

Emotional equity that powered campaigns is replaced by technocratic language. The chief minister who wept at election rallies now speaks only of GDP growth and tourist arrivals.

3. Dynastic Insulation

Political power remains within families:

• National Conference: Sheikh Abdullah → Farooq Abdullah → Omar Abdullah → Omar’s sons entering politics
• PDP: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed → Mehbooba Mufti → Iltija Mufti positioning for future
• People’s Conference: Abdul Gani Lone → Sajad Lone
• Even within NC: Ali Mohammad Sagar → Salman Sagar

This isn’t mentorship or institutional development. This is dynastic succession, where family name matters more than competence or public service.

4. Delhi Appeasement Over Public Interest

When critical moments arrive—AFSPA violations, disappearances, mass detentions, constitutional changes—these leaders consistently choose silence over confrontation with Delhi. Their occasional statements of disagreement are performative, designed for local consumption while ensuring no real friction with the Centre.

None resigned their Lok Sabha seats when Article 370 was abrogated. None launched sustained parliamentary resistance. None mobilized mass civil disobedience. They protested symbolically, accepted detention gracefully, and resumed politics-as-usual when released.

Real-Life Political Disasters That Shaped Kashmir’s Disillusionment

The PDP-BJP Alliance: The Gateway of Disaster

In 2014, PDP campaigned aggressively against BJP’s integrationist agenda for Kashmir. Campaign speeches warned Kashmiris of the dangers of BJP’s vision. But after the election results, PDP shocked everyone by forming a coalition government with BJP.

What Followed:

The 2016 unrest after Burhan Wani’s killing resulted in protests that defied curfew with attacks on security forces and public properties across Kashmir valley. Over 100 civilians died, mostly young protesters. Hundreds were blinded by pellet guns. The alliance gave BJP its first formal governance role in Kashmir—a foothold it used to eventually dismantle Kashmir’s special status entirely in 2019.

As Altaf Bukhari, founder of Apni Party, later challenged Mehbooba: “You preached against BJP in rallies but later formed a government with them. What happened to your promises then?”

National Conference’s Silence on Article 370

In late July and early August 2019, India moved an additional 45,000 troops into the Kashmir region in apparent preparation for announcing Article 370’s repeal. The abrogation was announced on August 5, 2019, along with Kashmir’s bifurcation into two Union Territories and a complete communication blackout.

National Conference’s response:

• Its three Lok Sabha members did not resign in protest
• No coordinated resistance strategy in Parliament
• Leadership was detained, but institutional response was minimal
• After detention ended, they participated in electoral politics under the new constitutional framework

Critics argue that if NC had genuinely opposed this historic change, it should have:

• Resigned all elected positions
• Launched sustained civil disobedience
• Built broader political alliances for resistance
• Made governance impossible for Delhi

Instead, Omar Abdullah eventually contested and won the 2024 Assembly elections under the new Union Territory framework—effectively legitimizing the very changes NC claimed to oppose.

Sajad Lone’s “Elder Brother” Moment

Sajad Lone, whose father Abdul Gani Lone was a prominent Hurriyat leader, made a dramatic transition to mainstream politics. In 2014, he famously referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “my elder brother” during a public meeting.

The statement was politically significant:

• It symbolized a complete break from his separatist lineage
• It suggested personal warmth with Modi even as Kashmir remained under military occupation
• It alienated many traditional supporters who saw it as betrayal

Later, post-2019, Sajad Lone criticized the Article 370 abrogation and distanced himself from BJP. But the damage to his credibility was done. His political journey illustrates the volatility of alliances and the cost of proximity to power.

Altaf Bukhari’s Transformation

Altaf Bukhari, who founded Apni Party after Article 370’s abrogation, was initially seen as a Delhi-approved politician—someone who would provide a civilian face to the new Union Territory arrangement.

His early position:

• Advocated pragmatic engagement with BJP
• Called for development and employment over emotional politics
• Was seen as Delhi’s “acceptable face” in Kashmir

His recent position:

• Slams both BJP and regional parties
• Accuses NC and PDP of betrayal during Article 370 abrogation
• Calls for lifting bans on religious organizations
• Positions himself as anti-establishment

This U-turn raises questions about consistency. Is it genuine evolution or political opportunism? Either way, it reflects the broader pattern—Kashmir’s politicians change positions based on political expediency rather than consistent principle.

“Same Hamam, Different Towels”: Kashmir’s Political Theatre of Blame

The Kashmiri proverb “hamam mein sab nange hain” (in the bathhouse, everyone is naked) perfectly captures Kashmir’s current political discourse. The bathhouse is a place of cleansing but also of equality—no matter your status, you enter stripped of pretense.

The Current Blame Game:

• NC blames PDP for partnering with BJP
• PDP blames NC for historical compromises with Delhi
• Apni Party blames both for emotional manipulation
• Congress blames everyone but conveniently forgets its own Kashmir failures

Each party claims moral high ground. Each accuses others of betrayal. But none can escape their shared legacy:

1. Broken promises to the electorate
2. Diluted autonomy through compromise with Delhi
3. Public disillusionment with democratic process
4. Dynastic succession over institutional development
5. Performance of resistance rather than actual resistance

As one Kashmiri voter lamented: “They speak of dignity but traded ours for power. They speak of development but left our schools leaking and our youth unemployed. They speak of autonomy but signed away our silence.”

The Generational Fallout: How Dynasty Politics Shaped Kashmir’s Youth

From Ballots to Bullets: The 1987-1989 Transformation

India’s efforts to manipulate elections in Kashmir and suppress dissent have marked Kashmir’s history since 1948, but it was not until 1986 that discontent within the state found wider popular support. The 1987 electoral fraud became the inflection point—the moment when democratic participation became meaningless for a generation of Kashmiris.

Young men who had campaigned democratically felt betrayed by the very process they’d trusted. Within two years, the valley erupted in armed insurgency. The message was clear: if peaceful democratic channels are blocked, people will find other ways to express dissent.

The 2010 Generation: Civilian Killings Under “Modern” Leadership

The 2010 Kashmir Unrest resulted in 112 deaths, including many teenager protesters at various incidents. This happened under Omar Abdullah, the supposedly modern, youth-friendly chief minister.

For young Kashmiris who had believed Omar’s promises of generational change, 2010 was devastating. The teenagers killed in 2010 were often the same age as Omar’s supporters in 2008. The government’s response—extended curfews, minimal accountability for security forces, AFSPA protection for perpetrators—demonstrated that despite cosmetic modernization, the fundamental power structure remained unchanged.

The 2016 Generation: Pellet Guns and Broken Promises

The 2016 unrest saw widespread use of pellet guns against civilian protesters, including children. Scores of Kashmiris were partially or completely blinded. Hospitals overflowed with eye injury patients. An entire generation carries the physical and psychological scars of that summer.

For youth watching Mehbooba Mufti’s government respond to protests with pellets while maintaining alliance with BJP, another lesson was learned: Kashmir’s leaders will choose political survival over protecting their people.

The Post-2019 Generation: Constitutional Betrayal

In the three years since August 5, 2019, the Indian government has drastically intensified the repression of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, including journalists and human rights defenders by subjecting them to multiple human rights violations including restrictions on rights to freedom of opinion and expression and to liberty and security of person.

Kashmir’s special constitutional status was revoked, the state was bifurcated and downgraded to Union Territory status, and a massive security clampdown was imposed. Kashmir’s political leaders, after brief detention, eventually accepted and participated in the new framework.

For the post-2019 generation, the lesson is stark: Even Kashmir’s supposedly “pro-Kashmir” parties will ultimately accommodate any change Delhi imposes. Democratic participation under such circumstances feels like legitimizing one’s own subjugation.

The Cumulative Impact: Cultural Erosion and Emotional Fatigue

Across these generations, several patterns have emerged:

1. Inherited Disillusionment: Each generation passes political cynicism to the next
2. Cultural Erosion: Traditional leadership replaced by PR-savvy but substance-free dynasts
3. Emotional Fatigue: Repeated betrayals create numbness—voting becomes theater, not transformation
4. Youth Migration: Talented young Kashmiris increasingly see their future outside Kashmir
5. Activism Criminalized: Dissent is labeled as terrorism, limiting peaceful expression

The youth of Kashmir have essentially grown up watching democracy fail them repeatedly. From 1987’s rigged elections to 2010’s civilian killings to 2016’s pellet horror to 2019’s constitutional dismantling, each milestone has reinforced the same message: ballots don’t deliver dignity in Kashmir.

The Mechanics of Dynastic Domination

How Political Families Maintain Power

Kashmir’s political dynasties don’t maintain power through competence or public service alone. They’ve developed sophisticated mechanisms:

1. Control of Party Structure

National Conference and PDP are essentially family-controlled entities. Key positions, candidate selection, and strategic decisions remain with the family core. This isn’t democratic party-building; it’s family business management.

2. Economic Networks

Political families develop extensive economic networks—construction contracts, transport monopolies, educational institutions, real estate holdings. These create dependency relationships that translate into political loyalty.

3. Media Management

Sophisticated media operations project family members as indispensable leaders. Alternative leaders within parties are systematically sidelined or marginalized. Dissent is labeled as disloyalty rather than democratic debate.

4. Delhi Connections

Kashmir’s dynasties maintain careful relationships with Delhi’s power centers across party lines. Whether Congress, BJP, or coalition governments, these families ensure access to central power. This Delhi connectivity becomes a political asset—”only we can talk to Delhi” becomes a campaign argument.

5. Controlled Opposition

Often, Kashmir’s major parties engage in theatrical opposition while maintaining backchannel coordination. This creates an illusion of choice while limiting genuine alternatives.

Why Alternatives Struggle

Non-dynastic politicians face systematic disadvantages:

• Limited Resources: Can’t match the financial muscle of established families
• Media Blackout: Struggle to get coverage compared to dynasty scions
• Delhi Suspicion: Seen as less “manageable” than known families
• Party Access: Difficult to rise within family-controlled parties
• Character Assassination: Any emerging alternative faces coordinated attacks

This creates a self-perpetuating system where family names matter more than competence, inherited positions trump earned authority, and lineage determines political opportunity.

What Kashmiris Deserve Instead of Dynasty Politics

Not Rhetoric, But Reform

Instead of soaring speeches about dignity and autonomy, Kashmiris need concrete institutional reforms:

• Independent investigation of civilian killings across all eras
• Accountability mechanisms for security forces
• Transparency in government contracts and appointments
• Democratic selection of candidates based on merit, not lineage
• Public consultation on major decisions affecting Kashmir’s status

Not Slogans, But Sincerity

Kashmir has heard every possible slogan—from “healing touch” to “maximum governance, minimum government” to “Naya Kashmir.” What’s missing isn’t messaging but sincerity.

Leaders must:

• Say what they believe rather than what polls well
• Follow through on commitments even when politically costly
• Prioritize principle over power retention
• Accept accountability when they fail rather than blame predecessors or Delhi

Not Alliances, But Accountability

The focus on which party alliances with which other party has become a distraction. The fundamental question isn’t PDP-BJP or NC-Congress—it’s accountability.

Kashmiris need:

• Regular audits of government performance
• Public reporting on election promises versus delivery
• Recall mechanisms for non-performing representatives
• Independent oversight of police and security forces
• Protection for whistleblowers and journalists

Not Spin, But Service

Modern political management has turned governance into content creation. Every minor action is amplified through sophisticated social media operations. Meanwhile, basic services—education, healthcare, employment—remain neglected.

Kashmir needs:

• Investment in public education rather than speeches about youth
• Functional healthcare rather than photo opportunities at hospital inaugurations
• Job creation rather than tweets about unemployment statistics
• Infrastructure maintenance rather than new project launches every election cycle

Breaking the Dynastic Stranglehold: Is Change Possible?

Signs of Hope

Despite decades of dynastic dominance, some developments suggest possible change:

1. Electoral Rebellions:

The defeat of Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti in 2024 Lok Sabha elections can be attributed to disillusionment with traditional politics and widespread dissatisfaction among voters on issues like unemployment, corruption, and the handling of the Kashmir problem. Voters are willing to punish established dynasties.

2. Independent Voices:

Social media has enabled independent voices—journalists, activists, analysts—to reach audiences without traditional gatekeepers. This creates alternative narratives beyond dynasty-controlled discourse.

3. Educated Youth:

Despite challenges, Kashmir has produced an educated, aware generation that questions inherited wisdom and demands accountability.

4. Women’s Participation:

Increasing political awareness among Kashmiri women creates a potential base for non-dynastic politics, though this remains largely untapped.

Obstacles to Change

However, formidable obstacles remain:

1. Resource Asymmetry:

Challenging established families requires resources—financial, organizational, media access—that most alternatives lack.

2. Delhi’s Preference:

Delhi’s power establishment, regardless of which party governs, often prefers dealing with known families rather than unpredictable alternatives.

3. Security Discourse:

Any genuine alternative leadership faces the risk of being labeled as “anti-national” or “separatist,” limiting political space.

4. Institutional Capture:

Dynasties have captured most institutions—parties, media, civil society organizations—making systemic change difficult.

5. Public Cynicism:

Repeated betrayals have created such deep cynicism that many Kashmiris have disengaged from politics entirely. Low voter turnout benefits established families who can mobilize their dedicated bases.

The Way Forward: Building Politics Beyond Families

Institutional Reforms Needed

1. Inner-Party Democracy:

Political parties must democratize their internal structures. Candidate selection through transparent primaries, not family fiat. Leadership elections through member voting, not dynastic succession.

2. Campaign Finance Reform:

Strict limits on campaign spending and transparent disclosure of funding sources. This reduces the advantage of inherited wealth and creates space for resource-poor alternatives.

3. Recall Provisions:

Mechanisms allowing constituents to recall non-performing representatives between elections. This creates ongoing accountability rather than five-year blank checks.

4. Anti-Defection Reform:

Strengthen provisions against political defections. Too many Kashmir politicians switch parties for convenience, betraying voter mandates.

5. Decentralization:

Real power devolution to district and block levels. This creates alternative leadership pipelines beyond state-level dynasties.

Cultural Shifts Required

Beyond institutional reforms, Kashmir needs cultural shifts:

1. Rejecting Personality Cults:

Stop treating politicians as saviors. Evaluate performance, not family names. Question rather than worship.

2. Supporting Independent Journalism:

Subscribe to, share, and financially support independent media that holds power accountable rather than amplifies dynasty narratives.

3. Grassroots Organizing:

Build community organizations focused on specific issues—education, health, employment—creating power bases independent of traditional parties.

4. Youth Leadership Development:

Identify, mentor, and support young leaders based on merit and commitment rather than family connections.

5. Cross-Regional Solidarity:

Build connections between Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh based on shared challenges rather than divisive politics.

The Red Part of the Apple: A Concluding Reflection

For 77 years, Kashmir’s political dynasties have followed the same playbook. They arrive during elections with garlands and promises, feast on the “red part of the apple”—the sweet sentiment and hope of the Kashmiri people—and then vanish, leaving behind the bitter peel of broken promises.

From Sheikh Abdullah’s Naya Kashmir to Omar Abdullah’s youth empowerment to Mehbooba Mufti’s healing touch, each generation of dynastic leadership has weaponized emotion, monetized identity, and institutionalized betrayal.

They’ve turned Kashmir’s pain into campaign currency. They’ve transformed political office from public service into family inheritance. They’ve perfected the art of performing resistance while practicing compromise.

The Abdullah Dynasty: Three generations—Sheikh, Farooq, Omar—and now a fourth emerging. Each promised autonomy, each compromised it. Each campaigned as outsiders, each governed as Delhi’s men in Srinagar.

The Mufti Dynasty: From Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s healing touch to Mehbooba’s BJP alliance to Iltija’s emerging profile. A party built on emotional equity that sold that equity for power.

The Pattern: Whether National Conference, PDP, Congress, People’s Conference, or Apni Party—the playbook remains identical. Empathy during campaigns, amnesia after victory. Family succession over democratic selection. Silence on repression when power is at stake.

What Must Change

Kashmir doesn’t need more actors performing empathy. It needs authors of its own future. This requires:

Rejecting Dynastic Theatre: Stop voting for family names. Demand competence and commitment over lineage.

Amplifying Grassroots Voices: Build political power from communities up, not dynasties down.

Creating Accountability Mechanisms: Make performance visible, quantifiable, and consequential.

Supporting Alternative Platforms: Invest time, resources, and credibility in political movements that resist family capture.

Demanding Institutional Democracy: Insist that political parties democratize their internal structures.

The Choice Ahead

Kashmir stands at a crossroads. One path continues the dynastic cycle—new faces from old families, familiar betrayals packaged in contemporary language, inherited positions masquerading as earned authority.

The other path is harder but more hopeful. It requires Kashmiris to reject the comfortable familiarity of known names. It demands engagement despite disappointment, organization despite exhaustion, hope despite history.

It means recognizing that the dynasties won’t voluntarily relinquish power. They must be systematically dismantled through:

• Electoral discipline: Voting against family succession regardless of party
• Economic pressure: Boycotting businesses that fund dynastic politics
• Social resistance: Refusing to treat political families as royalty
• Institutional reform: Demanding and implementing democratic party structures
• Alternative building: Creating and supporting new political platforms

The Hamam Reality: Everyone Is Naked

As Kashmir’s politicians trade accusations and claim moral superiority over each other, the people see the truth clearly: “Hamam mein sab nange hain”—in the bathhouse, everyone is naked.

National Conference blames PDP for the BJP alliance. PDP blames NC for historical compromises. Apni Party blames both for emotional manipulation. Congress blames everyone while forgetting its own failures. Sajad Lone distance himself from BJP after calling Modi his “elder brother.” Altaf Bukhari criticizes others for opportunism while displaying his own.

None can escape their shared legacy:

• They all compromised Kashmir’s autonomy
• They all maintained dynastic succession
• They all prioritized power over principle
• They all failed to protect Kashmiris when it mattered most
• They all performed resistance while practicing accommodation

A Message to Kashmir’s Political Elite

To the Abdullahs, Muftis, and all others who have treated Kashmir as family inheritance:

Your people are not your subjects. Political office is not patrimony to be passed from father to son, father to daughter, grandfather to grandson.

Your legacy is written in blood and tears. In the 1987 youth who lost faith in democracy. In the 2010 teenagers killed under curfew. In the 2016 eyes blinded by pellets. In the 2019 constitutional betrayal. In the generations of disillusionment you’ve created.

Your theatrics are transparent. Kashmiris see through election-time empathy that dissolves into post-election amnesia. They recognize performed resistance that masks real compromise. They understand that your fights with each other are often kayfabe—staged drama that protects shared interests.

Your time is ending. The 2024 electoral defeats signal something deeper than temporary setbacks. They represent a generational shift—a younger Kashmir that judges performance over pedigree, that demands accountability over access to power.

You still have a choice. Step aside gracefully. Support institutional democratization. Use your remaining influence to build systems rather than protect dynasties. Let your legacy be transition rather than obstruction.

Or be swept aside by history.

A Message to the People of Kashmir

To the youth watching another generation of dynasts prepare to inherit power:

You are not powerless. Your cynicism is understandable but not inevitable. Your disengagement benefits those who have betrayed you.

Your participation matters. Not naive faith in politicians, but strategic engagement in changing systems. Vote against dynasty. Build alternatives. Support independent voices. Demand accountability.

Your history is being written now. Every generation of Kashmiris has faced this choice—accommodation or resistance, cynicism or engagement, inherited wisdom or new pathways. What will define yours?

Your valley deserves better. Better than leaders who feast on your sentiment and leave you with bitterness. Better than families who view your votes as inheritance. Better than politicians who weaponize your pain for their power.

The red part of the apple has been eaten too many times. The sweet flesh devoured by those you trusted. It’s time to plant new orchards, where fruit belongs to those who cultivate it, not those who claim it as birthright.

Detailed Analysis: Key Political Figures and Their Betrayals

Sheikh Abdullah (1905-1982): The Lion Who Lost His Roar

The Context: Sheikh Abdullah emerged during Kashmir’s freedom struggle against Dogra rule. His National Conference mobilized masses across religious lines with the slogan of land reform and social justice. When Partition came in 1947, his decision to support accession to India rather than Pakistan was crucial.

The Promises:

• Genuine autonomy within Indian framework
• Land to the tiller through radical reforms
• Secular, progressive Kashmiri identity
• Protection of Kashmir’s special status

The Compromises:

• Accepted Indian Constitution’s gradual extension to Kashmir
• The 1975 accord abandoned his earlier positions on autonomy
• His return to power required accepting permanent accession to India
• Family succession over institutional building

The Legacy: Sheikh’s tragedy was that he began as a revolutionary and ended as a dynast. His early radicalism gave way to pragmatic accommodation. His vision of Naya Kashmir was real, but his execution was compromised by realpolitik and eventually by family ambition.

Farooq Abdullah (1937-present): The Playboy Prince

The Context: Farooq inherited power young, at 43, when his father died in 1982. Unlike Sheikh, who had earned authority through struggle, Farooq inherited it. He was educated in medicine, spoke English fluently, and was seen as modern but also as privileged and disconnected.

The Pattern: Farooq’s political career has been marked by:

• Multiple dismissals and reinstallations as Chief Minister
• Alliances with different national parties based on expediency
• The catastrophic 1987 election rigging
• Serving as Union Minister in NDA government
• Generally seen as prioritizing personal power over Kashmir’s interests

The Impact: Farooq normalized the idea of Kashmir’s leadership being transactional with Delhi. Under his watch, the gap between official politics and public sentiment widened dramatically. The 1987 rigging, whether he directly ordered it or merely permitted it, remains his permanent stain.

Current Status: Even in his late 80s, Farooq remains in politics, having won his Lok Sabha seat. His presence blocks younger, non-dynastic leadership from emerging within NC. His longevity in politics symbolizes the dynasty’s unwillingness to exit gracefully.

Omar Abdullah (1970-present): The Twitter Chief Minister

The Context: Omar represented generational change—young, educated, social media-savvy, fluent in the language of modern governance. He promised to be different from his grandfather and father.

The Reality:

• Became Chief Minister at 38 with huge expectations
• 2010 summer saw 112 civilian deaths under his watch
• Continued AFSPA without modification
• Failed to prosecute security forces for civilian killings
• Gradually became defensive and dismissive of criticism

The Transformation: Omar’s evolution from humble campaigner to dismissive ruler epitomizes elite disconnection. His frequent Twitter presence created an illusion of accessibility while actual accountability remained absent. He mastered optics without delivering substance.

The Article 370 Response: When Article 370 was abrogated, Omar was detained. But unlike previous leaders who had faced prison for principle, this detention felt different—more administrative than principled resistance. Upon release, he eventually contested elections under the new framework, legitimizing the changes he claimed to oppose.

Current Trajectory: With his own sons now in politics, Omar is establishing the fourth generation of Abdullah rule. This suggests the dynasty has learned nothing from repeated electoral setbacks.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (1936-2016): The Master Manipulator

The Context: Unlike the Abdullahs, Mufti came from Congress background, serving as India’s Home Minister. He understood Delhi’s power structures intimately. When he founded PDP in 1999, he positioned it as an alternative to NC’s compromised politics.

The Strategy: PDP’s genius was understanding what NC had lost—the ability to articulate Kashmir’s emotional landscape. PDP spoke the language of hurt, healing, and hope. It attracted former militants, separatist sympathizers, and those disillusioned with NC.

The Betrayals:

• Alliance with Congress in 2002 was rationalized as pragmatism
• But 2015 BJP alliance shocked everyone who believed PDP’s rhetoric
• Mufti argued he was building bridges, but many saw it as surrender
• He gave BJP its first governance role in Kashmir

The Death: Mufti died in January 2016, months before the valley exploded after Burhan Wani’s killing. His death spared him from seeing the full consequences of his BJP alliance, leaving his daughter to manage the fallout.

Mehbooba Mufti (1959-present): The Captive Chief Minister

The Context: Mehbooba spent months refusing to form government after her father’s death, uncomfortable with continuing the BJP alliance. But eventually, power’s pull proved stronger than principle.

The 2016 Nightmare: Her tenure as Chief Minister coincided with Kashmir’s most intense unrest in years:

• Burhan Wani’s killing unleashed mass protests
• Pellet guns blinded over 1,100 people
• She was criticized for being absent during crisis
• Her government seemed paralyzed between BJP’s demands and public anger

The Quotes That Define Her:

1. “I won’t sell my father’s grave for power” – said before continuing the alliance that compromised PDP
2. “Modi ji gave us a chance to dream” – alienating supporters who saw Modi as Kashmir’s oppressor
3. On pellet guns: Her defense of their use as “non-lethal” while youth lost eyesight

The Collapse: By 2018, the alliance collapsed. BJP withdrew support, and Mehbooba’s government fell. PDP’s credibility never recovered. In 2024, she lost her Lok Sabha seat decisively.

Current Position: Mehbooba now speaks more forcefully against Delhi’s policies than she did as Chief Minister. This transformation rings hollow to many who remember her silence when she had power. Her daughter Iltija’s political emergence suggests the dynasty continues.

Sajad Lone: The Prodigal Son’s Wanderings

The Background: Sajad is son of Abdul Gani Lone, a prominent Hurriyat leader assassinated in 2002. Sajad initially followed his father’s separatist path but later chose mainstream politics.

The Journey:

• Formed People’s Conference, reviving his father’s old party
• Initially maintained distance from both NC and PDP
• 2014: Called Modi “elder brother,” shocking many
• Contested elections with BJP support
• Post-2019: Criticized Article 370 abrogation
• Currently: Positions himself as alternative to dynasties

The Contradictions: Sajad’s political journey illustrates the complexity and contradictions of Kashmiri politics. His transformation from Hurriyat lineage to Modi admirer to Article 370 critic shows either evolution or opportunism, depending on interpretation.

The Dynasty Question: Despite criticizing others’ dynastic politics, Sajad himself inherited political space from his father. His son is now positioning for eventual entry, continuing the pattern.

Altaf Bukhari: The Businessman-Turned-Politician

The Context: Altaf Bukhari was a successful businessman before entering politics with PDP. After Article 370’s abrogation, he formed Apni Party, seen as Delhi-approved alternative to detained NC and PDP leaders.

The Initial Phase:

• Advocated accepting post-370 reality
• Focused on development and jobs over emotional issues
• Maintained cordial relations with Delhi
• Criticized NC and PDP for their past failures

The Shift: Recently, Bukhari has become more critical:

• Questions others’ alliances while having his own with BJP
• Criticizes dynastic politics while building his own organization
• Speaks about AFSPA and political prisoners after initially avoiding such topics
• Positions Apni Party as alternative to established dynasties

The Credibility Question: Bukhari’s transformation raises questions. Is this genuine evolution based on ground realities, or political recalibration seeing which way the wind blows? His business interests and their relationship with political positions remain under scrutiny.

The Economics of Dynasty Politics

How Political Power Translates to Economic Power

Kashmir’s political dynasties haven’t just accumulated political capital—they’ve converted it into substantial economic power:

1. Real Estate Holdings: Political families own prime real estate in Srinagar, Jammu, and tourist areas. Property values have multiplied over decades, creating generational wealth.

2. Educational Institutions: Several prominent schools and colleges are owned or controlled by political families, generating steady revenue and social influence.

3. Construction Contracts: Government contracts for infrastructure projects often go to firms connected to political families, directly or through proxies.

4. Transport Networks: Control over transport permits and routes creates monopolies benefiting connected families.

5. Hospitality Industry: Hotels, houseboats, and tourism operations owned by political families benefit from policy decisions those families influence.

The Cycle of Economic Dependency

This creates a problematic cycle:

• Political power generates business opportunities
• Business wealth funds political campaigns
• Successful campaigns maintain political power
• Political power protects business interests
• The cycle continues across generations

This economic entrenchment makes displacing dynasties even harder. They can outspend challengers, control employment opportunities, and create dependency relationships throughout society.

The Cost to Kashmir’s Economy

Dynastic economics has real costs:

• Reduced competition: Family monopolies prevent merit-based business growth
• Corruption premium: Businesses factor in “political costs” of operating
• Brain drain: Talented youth leave, seeing limited opportunity
• Underemployment: Jobs allocated based on connections rather than capability
• Policy distortion: Economic policies favor dynasty interests over public good

Breaking dynastic political control requires addressing these economic structures too.

Comparative Analysis: Kashmir vs. Other Dynastic Politics

India’s Broader Dynasty Problem

Kashmir’s dynastic politics exists within India’s broader culture of political dynasties:

• Congress: Nehru-Gandhi family’s multi-generational control
• Samajwadi Party: Mulayam-Akhilesh Yadav succession
• DMK: Karunanidhi family in Tamil Nadu
• Shiv Sena: Thackeray family in Maharashtra
• RJD: Lalu-Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar

However, Kashmir’s dynasties have unique characteristics:

• Smaller scale: In a small polity, dynasties dominate entirely
• Security overlay: Military presence complicates opposition mobilization
• Delhi control: Central government’s leverage over local dynasties
• Separatist backdrop: Alternative politics is often labeled as anti-national
• Media restrictions: Limited independent journalism compared to other states

Learning from Other Regions

Some regions have successfully challenged dynastic politics:

• Delhi: AAP disrupted established parties, though now showing its own dynastic tendencies
• Punjab: AAP’s 2022 victory broke traditional dynasty hold
• Goa: Citizens’ movements have challenged entrenched families

Kashmir can learn from these examples while recognizing its unique constraints.

The Role of Media and Information Control

How Dynasties Manage Narratives

Kashmir’s political dynasties maintain power partly through sophisticated media management:

1. Owned Media: Several newspapers and news channels are owned or influenced by political families, ensuring favorable coverage.

2. Advertisement Leverage: Government advertising budgets are used to reward friendly media and punish critical outlets.

3. Access Control: Journalists critical of dynasties lose access to sources, making investigative reporting difficult.

4. Social Media Operations: Professional teams manage leaders’ social media presence, creating illusion of accessibility while controlling messaging.

5. Legal Intimidation: Critics face defamation suits or worse, creating chilling effect on independent journalism.

The Information Asymmetry

Common citizens face massive information disadvantages:

• Real governance data is often unavailable
• Corruption investigations are rarely publicized
• Electoral promises versus delivery aren’t systematically tracked
• Alternative political platforms struggle for visibility

Breaking dynasty control requires breaking information monopolies.

Youth Perspectives: Voices from Kashmir’s Next Generation

The Disillusioned

Many young Kashmiris express complete cynicism about electoral politics:

“My grandfather voted for Sheikh, my father voted for Farooq, I voted for Omar. Three generations, same family, same betrayals. Why should my children make the same mistake?”

“They visit our village before elections, make promises, take photographs. Then vanish for five years. Next election, their son or daughter comes, makes the same promises. It’s a family business, not politics.”

The Engaged

Some youth remain politically engaged despite disappointments:

“Cynicism is easy. It absolves us of responsibility. If we don’t participate, we guarantee nothing changes. We must engage differently—not as blind supporters but as demanding constituents.”

“We need to stop voting for names and start voting for performance. Track what they promised versus delivered. Hold them accountable. Build alternative platforms.”

The Departed

Many talented young Kashmiris simply leave:

“I pursued higher education outside Kashmir. Got a good job. My parents want me back, but why? What opportunity is there except joining some dynasty’s patronage network? I love Kashmir but I can’t sacrifice my future for dynastic politics.”

This brain drain represents Kashmir’s greatest loss—the best and brightest seeing no future in their homeland’s political and economic structures.

The Path Forward: Concrete Steps for Change

For Voters

1. Vote Against Dynasty: Regardless of party, vote against candidates who represent family succession. Make it clear that political inheritance is unacceptable.

2. Demand Transparency: Ask candidates specific questions:

• What did your party deliver in previous tenure?
• Will you support inner-party democracy?
• Will you resign if you fail to deliver campaign promises?

3. Track Performance: Create citizen groups that systematically track electoral promises versus actual delivery. Make data public before next elections.

4. Support Independent Media: Subscribe to, fund, and share independent journalism that holds power accountable.

5. Organize Locally: Build community organizations around specific issues—education, health, employment. Create power bases independent of traditional parties.

For Aspiring Politicians

1. Reject Dynastic Parties: Don’t join NC, PDP, or other family-controlled parties hoping to rise. Build alternative platforms instead.

2. Focus on Issues: Build expertise and credibility on specific issues—water management, education reform, employment generation—rather than general political rhetoric.

3. Use Technology: Leverage social media and digital platforms to reach voters directly, reducing dependence on traditional party machinery.

4. Build Coalitions: Work with civil society, professional associations, and community groups to create broad-based support.

5. Demonstrate Integrity: Live the values you preach. Transparency in personal finances. Accessibility to constituents. Accountability for commitments.

For Civil Society

1. Voter Education: Conduct systematic voter education campaigns focusing on evaluating candidates based on performance rather than family names.

2. Governance Monitoring: Create independent monitoring systems for government performance on key metrics—health, education, employment, infrastructure.

3. Alternative Platform Building: Help incubate new political platforms focused on specific issues rather than personality cults.

4. Legal Advocacy: Push for institutional reforms—campaign finance transparency, inner-party democracy, recall provisions.

5. Cultural Resistance: Challenge the cultural normalization of dynasty. Stop treating political families as royalty. Celebrate meritocracy over inheritance.

For Media

1. Investigative Journalism: Systematically investigate:

• How political families have accumulated wealth
• Connections between business interests and policy decisions
• Electoral promises versus actual delivery
• Inner workings of family-controlled parties

2. Platform Alternative Voices: Give coverage to non-dynastic politicians and citizens’ movements, not just established families.

3. Data Journalism: Track and visualize governance data—budgets, employment, education outcomes—making performance transparent.

4. Resist Intimidation: Stand firm against legal threats, access denial, and other intimidation tactics used by dynasties.

5. Build Sustainability: Develop reader-funded models reducing dependence on government advertising or dynasty-connected business support.

Bottom-Line: The Red Apple and the Bitter Peel

For seventy-seven years, Kashmir’s political dynasties have perfected a con game. They arrive during elections with promises that sound like prayers—autonomy, dignity, development, justice. They speak the language of hurt and healing. They perform empathy with remarkable skill.

And then they feast.

They feast on the red part of the apple—the sweet, succulent flesh of Kashmiri hope and sentiment. They gorge themselves on public trust. They fill their family coffers with the fruits of political power.

And then they vanish, leaving Kashmiris with the bitter peel—the dry, discarded rind of broken promises.

From Sheikh Abdullah’s Naya Kashmir to Farooq Abdullah’s democratic betrayals to Omar Abdullah’s Twitter progressivism to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s healing touch to Mehbooba Mufti’s BJP alliance—the pattern never changes.

Different actors, same script.
Different slogans, same substance.
Different generations, same dynasties.

They promise autonomy, deliver compromise.
They promise dignity, deliver humiliation.
They promise development, deliver photo opportunities.
They promise resistance, deliver accommodation.

And through it all, they ensure one thing remains constant: power within the family.

Kashmir doesn’t need more political actors performing empathy on election stages. It doesn’t need fourth-generation dynasts with better English and more Twitter followers. It doesn’t need families that have been betraying Kashmiris since 1947 to produce fifth-generation successors.

Kashmir needs to become the author of its own political future.

This requires:

• Rejecting dynastic succession as firmly as Kashmir rejects military occupation
• Building alternative platforms from grassroots up, not dynasties down
• Creating accountability systems that make performance visible and consequential
• Supporting independent voices in media, civil society, and politics
• Demanding institutional democracy within parties, not family control

The hamam is indeed full of naked politicians pretending to be clothed in virtue. National Conference, PDP, Congress, Apni Party, People’s Conference—they all stand exposed. They’ve all failed. They’ve all prioritized power over principle, family over people, survival over service.

But here’s the transformative truth: Kashmiris don’t need to accept this reality.

Every dynasty that has ever fallen—from monarchies to military dictatorships to political families—fell because people collectively decided: enough.

Kashmir’s dynastic politics will end the same way. Not through the grace of the Abdullahs or the Muftis or any other family. But through the determined, organized, sustained resistance of Kashmiris who refuse to let another generation inherit power they haven’t earned.

The red part of the apple has been eaten too many times. It’s time to plant new orchards, where fruit belongs to those who cultivate it, not those who claim it by birth.

It’s time for Kashmir to move beyond the theater of dynastic betrayal and write its own political future—not with inherited scripts, but with earned authority. Not with family names, but with public service. Not with empty promises, but with accountable performance.

The choice is clear. The time is now. The power is yours.

Will the next generation of Kashmiris break the dynasty stranglehold? Or will they too accept the bitter peel, having watched yet another family feast on the red part of their apple?

History is watching. Kashmir is waiting. And the dynasties, despite their confidence, are more vulnerable than they appear.

Because in the end, all empires fall. All dynasties crumble. All cons are eventually exposed.

The only question is: when?

For Kashmir, that when should be now.