Omar Abdullah’s First Year in Office (2024–2025)
By: Javid Amin | 16 October 2025
A Political Deep-Dive into Power, Promise, and Paralysis in Jammu & Kashmir
“From Paris to Paralysis”: A Metaphor That Captures a Moment
When Omar Abdullah returned to power in October 2024, many in Jammu & Kashmir viewed him as a cosmopolitan figure — educated, globally connected, a leader who could bridge Kashmir’s deep wounds with pragmatic governance. His foreign-educated image, often romanticized as “Parisian polish,” symbolized hope for a modern, dignified and development-driven future.
But one year later, that polished optimism has given way to what critics are calling political paralysis. The biggest promises — statehood restoration, constitutional safeguards, employment generation — remain unfulfilled. Symbolic victories stand tall, but structural reforms are conspicuously missing.
This contrast between lofty expectations and slow delivery has defined Omar’s first year in office.
The Mandate and the Moment: A Return to Elected Governance
In 2024, after years of direct central rule, the people of Jammu & Kashmir gave the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) a clear mandate. Omar’s campaign — anchored in the manifesto “Dignity, Identity, and Development” — promised not just governance but political restoration.
Key campaign planks:
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Full statehood restoration.
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Legal protection for land and jobs.
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Economic revival and mass youth employment.
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Cultural and civil liberty restoration.
The emotional weight of this election was immense. For many Kashmiris, it was a referendum on the post-2019 political order. Omar was not just expected to govern; he was expected to undo — or at least begin to undo — the political and constitutional disruptions of the last decade.
What Omar Abdullah’s Government Achieved in Year One
While critics are loud, the government does have some early wins. These achievements, though largely symbolic, signal attempts at re-engaging a fatigued population.
Revival of Darbar Move: Symbolism Meets Sentiment
The centuries-old Darbar Move — the biannual shifting of the seat of power between Srinagar and Jammu — was revived. For many, this was more than a bureaucratic event; it symbolized regional balance, cultural continuity, and a return to familiar rhythms after years of administrative centralization.
“The Darbar Move is not just a tradition — it’s part of our shared political memory,” said a retired bureaucrat in Jammu.
Reopening of TRC Stadium: Youth and Sports
The TRC Stadium was reopened with the hosting of the 69th National School Games. This was a highly publicized event — part of a broader push to re-engage youth through sports, culture, and extracurricular activities after years of lockdowns and tensions.
“Sports won’t solve unemployment, but it gives hope,” noted a Srinagar college student who volunteered at the event.
Coalition Stability (Partial): Managing Congress Tensions
The NC successfully held together its alliance with the Indian National Congress despite ideological and tactical differences — including the bruising Rajya Sabha ticket tussle. The alliance has held, at least formally, preserving a legislative buffer for Omar’s government.
Public Outreach
Omar’s team organized town hall meetings, cultural festivals, and local dialogues aimed at reconnecting with citizens after years of alienation. These events did not yield immediate policy breakthroughs but helped normalize the idea of participatory politics again.
What Remains Unfulfilled — The Core Promises Under Fire
Statehood: The Promise that Anchored the Campaign
The biggest promise — the restoration of full statehood for Jammu & Kashmir — remains undelivered. There is no formal roadmap, no date, and no structured negotiation with the Centre. For many voters, this is a profound disappointment.
“We didn’t vote for festivals. We voted for our rights,” said Rafiqa Bano, a schoolteacher from Anantnag.
Article 370 and Constitutional Safeguards
Omar’s campaign leaned heavily on the emotional narrative of identity restoration through constitutional means. But one year in, no legislative or legal steps have been taken to push this agenda forward.
Administrative Paralysis and Bureaucratic Inertia
Across districts, officials and civil society groups report slow decision-making, delayed recruitment, and lack of urgency. Critics describe Omar’s first year as “governance on auto-pilot.”
Youth Disillusionment
Despite early symbolic outreach, the government has failed to address mass unemployment — one of Kashmir’s most urgent socio-economic crises. With limited opportunities, digital addiction and aimlessness are rising among youth.
Security Challenges
Sporadic violence, rising radicalization concerns, and internal dissent within some administrative ranks have dented the image of a stable democratic transition.
Opposition Reactions — Sharpening the Political Blade
The opposition has not wasted the opportunity to exploit these gaps.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
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Accused Omar of indulging in symbolic politics, avoiding concrete action on statehood or autonomy.
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Called the unfulfilled statehood promise “a betrayal of public trust.”
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Criticized Omar’s refusal to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as principled but ineffective.
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party
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Praised Omar’s anti-BJP stance, framing it as a moral position.
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Simultaneously questioned his governance performance, particularly on youth issues.
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Engaged in a war of words with PDP over credibility and past alliances.
Bharatiya Janata Party
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Mocked Omar’s administration for “romanticizing the past” without delivering development.
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Accused NC of “playing to the gallery” instead of confronting hard realities like security, investment, and jobs.
Public Sentiment: Between Nostalgia and Frustration
The return of an elected government initially brought a wave of hope. For many, Omar Abdullah represented a bridge between Kashmir’s past autonomy and a new, pragmatic future. But one year later, nostalgia has met frustration.
Many people are torn between appreciating the symbolic return to local politics and resenting the lack of urgency in addressing structural issues.
“We feel like passengers in a parked car. The driver is there, the music is playing — but the car isn’t moving,” said Bilal Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Pulwama.
The Youth Factor — A Time Bomb or a Political Opportunity?
Kashmir has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in India. The Omar government promised 50,000 jobs and innovation hubs — but no such program has materialized at scale.
Idle youth, especially in urban centers like Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag, are increasingly vocal. Digital escapism, short-term gigs, and migration dreams have replaced the optimism of electoral slogans.
Analysts warn that youth disillusionment could become the single biggest political liability for the government in its second year.
Coalition Dynamics — Fragile but Intact
Despite strains, the NC-Congress coalition remains operationally stable. The Rajya Sabha ticket dispute earlier this month threatened to destabilize the partnership, but Congress chose not to withdraw support.
Omar has managed to keep the coalition from breaking — a tactical success — but this also limits his room to maneuver. Congress is unlikely to support aggressive political posturing on statehood that could provoke the Centre.
Political Narrative and the “Paris Effect”
Omar’s global, urbane image has always been part of his political identity — dubbed the “Paris Effect” by some observers. His ability to speak to both Delhi and Srinagar, to blend modernity with regional sentiment, once made him the poster boy of “soft nationalism.”
But that image, once aspirational, now carries risk. Many citizens feel he’s out of touch with the urgency of ground realities — that governance has become performative, not transformative.
From Symbolism to Structure: What Omar Could Do Next
The political window is narrow, but still open. Experts and party insiders suggest a 6–12 month action plan could help Omar reclaim momentum:
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Announce a clear Statehood Roadmap with milestones and periodic public updates.
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Launch a youth employment mission with transparent recruitment drives and innovation hubs.
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Institute administrative reforms to fast-track decision-making.
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Strengthen security–civil engagement to ensure democratic stability.
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Reclaim the autonomy narrative not just as rhetoric but through structured legal and political channels.
What Could Go Wrong — The Paralysis Scenario
If the current inertia continues, several risks loom:
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A fractured coalition could leave the government legislatively weak.
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Rising youth anger could fuel street-level unrest.
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Opposition parties could consolidate around the statehood narrative, cornering NC.
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The Centre may sideline state-level political actors entirely if instability returns.
The Road Ahead: Second Year as a Political Test
Omar Abdullah’s first year has been a study in contrasts: high symbolism, low structural delivery. His second year will determine whether “Paris” — the metaphor of cosmopolitan hope — can reclaim momentum, or whether “paralysis” will harden into political stagnation.
Key markers to watch in Year Two:
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Movement (or lack thereof) on statehood talks with the Centre.
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Youth employment announcements.
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Coalition health indicators.
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Opposition unity.
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Security situation through winter.
Editorial Reflection — The Weight of Expectations
“Paris to Paralysis” is not just a headline. It is a mirror held up to a political project that promised to restore dignity, identity, and development — and so far, has delivered mainly nostalgia and noise.
The people of Jammu & Kashmir are no longer content with poetic manifestos. They want tangible governance, clear political direction, and a leader who moves the car forward.
The second year of Omar Abdullah’s tenure will be less about sentiment — and more about substance.
