Why the JDF Deserves Encouragement ?

By : Sheikh Mohammad Isa

Jammu and Kashmir has lived through decades of political uncertainty, violence, ideological conflict and deep mistrust. In such a difficult environment, any genuine movement away from confrontation and towards democratic participation deserves serious consideration. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The emergence of the Justice and Development Front (JDF) is one such development.

The JDF emerged from a faction of people formerly associated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami who chose to enter electoral politics. Several Jamaat-associated candidates contested the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections as Independents, ending a long period of electoral disengagement. The Election Commission of India subsequently recognised the JDF as a political party in January 2026.

This transition should not be judged only through the politics of the past. It should also be judged by what these political actors are doing today and, more importantly, where they take their politics in the future.

From Boycott to the Ballot Box

For decades, election boycotts and rejection of mainstream political institutions influenced important sections of Kashmir’s political landscape.

The JDF’s decision to enter electoral politics represents a significant change in that approach.

During the 2024 Assembly elections, several figures associated with the Jamaat faction contested as Independents. The subsequent formation and formal recognition of the JDF gave that electoral participation a more organised political structure.

The principle behind this transition is simple:

A grievance expressed through the ballot box is better for society than a grievance expressed through violence, intimidation or permanent political alienation.

Democracy does not require people to agree with one another. It requires them to accept that political disagreements can be pursued through elections, public debate, institutions and peaceful engagement.

That is why a move from boycott to participation deserves recognition.

The Past Matters, But Change Matters Too

There is no need to erase history.

The previous political positions and associations of JDF figures deserve scrutiny. Democratic politics requires transparency, accountability and respect for the law.

But accountability should not mean that people are permanently denied the opportunity to change.

If individuals who once rejected elections later decide to participate in them, the democratic response should be to judge their present conduct honestly.

The important question is not whether their past should be forgotten. It should not.

The question is whether society should encourage a peaceful political transformation when it occurs.

If former opponents of mainstream politics choose elections, dialogue and constitutional institutions, they should be encouraged to remain within that democratic space. If they break the law, they must face the law like everyone else.

That balance — opportunity combined with accountability — is essential to a healthy democracy.

Mainstreaming Is Better Than Alienation

Peace is not created only through security measures. It also requires legitimate political channels through which people can express their concerns, aspirations and grievances.

When political disagreement has a peaceful place inside democratic institutions, there is less reason for it to remain outside them.

That makes mainstream political participation important.

The JDF’s journey should therefore be encouraged not because of its past, but because of the possibilities created by its present direction.

Its political leaders now have an opportunity to demonstrate that political energy once associated with separation and boycott can instead be directed towards elections, public service, development and social welfare.

The Real Test Starts Now

Recognition as a political party is not the destination. It is the beginning of a much more important test.

The JDF must now demonstrate through its actions that its future is firmly rooted in peaceful democratic participation, constitutional values, good governance and public welfare.

Its leaders have an opportunity to move beyond old political divisions and focus on the issues that matter most to ordinary people.

These include:

• Education and skills
• Employment and entrepreneurship
• Healthcare
• Local development
• Good governance
• Corruption
• Drug abuse
• Opportunities for young people
• Community welfare

This is where the credibility of the JDF will ultimately be built.

From Political Rhetoric to Public Service

One encouraging example is the JDF’s participation in the Nasha Mukt J&K campaign.

In June 2026, JDF members, including General Secretary Sayar Ahmad Reshi, joined Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during an anti-drug march in Kulgam. The organisation subsequently said it was committed to building a healthier and safer society.

Such participation is important because drug abuse does not belong to one political party, community or ideology. It affects families, young people and communities across Jammu and Kashmir.

When political organisations put their energy into tackling problems such as addiction, education and unemployment, politics becomes more meaningful to ordinary citizens.

This is precisely the direction in which the JDF should continue to move.

Kashmir Needs More Democratic Choices

Jammu and Kashmir does not need fewer peaceful political voices. It needs more responsible democratic participation.

A mature democracy should be confident enough to allow different political ideas to compete, provided they operate within the law and constitutional framework.

The JDF can contribute positively if it converts its political platform into meaningful grassroots work.

Its success should ultimately be measured not by the slogans associated with its past, but by the quality of its service to the people.

Can it help young people find opportunities?

Can it contribute to the fight against drugs?

Can it promote education and entrepreneurship?

Can it improve local governance?

Can it speak firmly about public grievances without encouraging hatred or confrontation?

These are the questions that should define the organisation’s future.

A Second Chance Can Strengthen Democracy

Political transformation is rarely easy.

People who change their political positions can face suspicion from both sides. Some may believe they have changed too much, while others may believe they have not changed enough.

But democracy must leave room for political evolution.

If someone moves from boycott to ballot, confrontation to dialogue and political isolation to institutional participation, that direction should be encouraged while remaining subject to public scrutiny and the law.

The purpose is not to reward anyone for their past.

The purpose is to make the future more peaceful, democratic and stable.

A New Message for Kashmir’s Youth

Perhaps the most important aspect of the JDF’s political transition is the message it can send to Kashmir’s younger generation.

Political disagreement does not have to end in violence.

Frustration does not have to become extremism.

Political aspirations do not have to result in alienation.

There is another path:

Education. Participation. Elections. Debate. Public service. Constitutional democracy.

If the JDF genuinely follows that path, its political journey could demonstrate that change is possible even in a region shaped by decades of conflict and political mistrust.

That possibility deserves a fair chance.

Let the People Judge

The strongest test of any political organisation is ultimately the people.

The JDF should be allowed to present its ideas, work among communities, contest elections and seek public support within the law. Voters should then decide whether its policies and promises deserve their confidence.

That is the essence of democracy.

Jammu and Kashmir has already paid a heavy price for violence, division and political alienation. The region now needs every legitimate avenue capable of bringing political disagreement into peaceful institutions.

The JDF’s journey from boycott-era politics towards democratic participation should therefore be viewed as an opportunity — an opportunity to turn political distance into participation, resentment into dialogue and old divisions into a more peaceful democratic future.

The past should be remembered.

The present should be judged honestly.

But the future should remain open.

And if the road ahead truly leads from boycott to ballot, isolation to participation and confrontation to constitutional democracy, Jammu and Kashmir should encourage that journey.

A democratic system becomes stronger not when it silences political change, but when it gives peaceful change a place within the system.