ibn sultan
Srinagar: A new political alliance was announced in Kashmir on Monday, bringing together three regional players under the banner of the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC).
The alliance includes Sajad Lone’s Jammu Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC), Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen’s People’s Democratic Front (PDF), and the Justice and Development Front (JDF), a newly floated party backed by former members of the Jamaat-e-Islami.
The announcement marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Jammu Kashmir, particularly after the 2024 assembly elections, where traditional powerhouses like the National Conference and the BJP dominated the results. While JKPC secured only one seat—Sajad Lone’s victory in Handwara—PDF failed to win any, and Jamaat-backed independents performed modestly. With the PAC, these parties are aiming to consolidate influence and offer an alternative to the dominant political blocs.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, a senior JKPC leader said the decision to join the alliance was rooted in the need for a united regional voice. “This isn’t just an electoral arrangement. This is about representing the aspirations of the people of Kashmir, who have long been let down by both national parties and a fractured regional leadership,” the leader said.
Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, who previously served as a minister in multiple state governments, also echoed similar sentiments. A close aide of Yaseen told The Kashmiriyat that the PDF leader believes PAC will help revive confidence among voters, especially in rural Kashmir. “He sees this as a path to not only reclaim political space but also push back against narratives that have excluded regional actors,” the aide said.
The inclusion of the Justice and Development Front adds another layer of complexity. While the Jamaat-e-Islami remains officially banned, many of its core members have regrouped under the JDF in hopes of returning to mainstream politics.
The PAC plans to hold a series of public outreach programs and policy consultations in the coming weeks. While the formal agenda of the alliance has not yet been released, leaders say it will focus on restoring dignity to the democratic process in Kashmir, advocating for constitutional rights, and countering what they see as centralised control from New Delhi.
In the aftermath of the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, regional political groups in Jammu Kashmir have struggled to redefine their roles.
The PAC is the latest attempt to consolidate a meaningful opposition that is not only rooted in local issues but also capable of challenging the status quo in upcoming municipal and panchayat elections.
Sources within the alliance told The Kashmiriyat that they are not ruling out future collaborations with other regional parties but want to first establish PAC as a credible alternative. “We are not here to imitate the Delhi model. We are here to build a Kashmir-specific model of governance and representation,” one of the founding members said.
