Kashmir’s Trust Betrayed? NC’s Populist Promises Face Harsh Reality Check
By: Javid Amin | 04 November 2025
On August 19, 2024, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) released its election manifesto ahead of the assembly polls in the Union Territory. The document contained bold promises—some rooted in longstanding regional aspirations (restoration of Article 370 and full statehood), others framed as generous welfare guarantees (free electricity, free bus travel for women, free gas cylinders, 1 lakh government jobs).
Fast‐forward a year into governance (or at least into the period of accountability), many of those promises are either under serious strain or appear to have been quietly diluted. Voter sentiment across the Kashmir Valley suggests frustration, a sense of broken trust—and a growing gap between slogan and substance.
This article explores how the NC’s manifesto promises are holding up in practice: the strengths of the pledges, the governance and fiscal realities confronting them, their implementation status in key sectors, the political implications for Kashmir’s future—and what lies ahead.
The Manifesto: Guarantees Over Groundwork
A Bundle of Bold Pledges
The NC’s manifesto for the 2024 J&K Assembly elections marked a sweeping set of commitments. It called itself a “vision document” and a roadmap for governance, even as it included what critics would describe as populist “guarantees”. Key elements included:
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Restoration of Article 370 (and Article 35A) and restoration of J&K’s full statehood.
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Repeal of the Public Safety Act (PSA) and release of political prisoners.
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Provision of one lakh (100,000) government jobs for youth and filling all vacancies within 180 days of coming to power.
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Free or highly subsidised welfare measures: e.g., free 200 units of electricity to households; free bus travel for women; free gas cylinders (12 per year) for economically weaker sections; monthly cash support of Rs 5,000 to women heads of households in weaker sections.
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Strengthening public distribution system, free education up to university level, health infrastructure expansion, granting “industry status” to tourism, transferring hydropower projects to J&K, and more.
In short, the manifesto combined long‐standing political demands (autonomy/statehood) with lavish welfare promises and job creation pledges.
Guarantees vs Aspirations: The Distinction
What stands out is the NC’s use of the term guarantee rather than mere “aim” or “aspiration”. The manifesto repeatedly frames its commitments as deliverables: the “12 guarantees” headline, the promise to fill vacancies within 180 days, to generate 1 lakh jobs, to provide free electricity, etc.
This is a departure from many manifestos in the region and elsewhere where targets are often stated as contingent (“we will aim to…”). The NC thus set a high bar for itself—and raised public expectations accordingly.
Why This Approach?
Several factors likely explain this strategy:
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The political context: After years of upheaval following the abrogation of J&K’s special status in 2019, regional parties had to demonstrate relevance and provide tangible benefits. A guarantee‐heavy manifesto signals confidence and ambition.
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Appeal to youth and welfare‐seeking voters: Given high unemployment in J&K, the promise of jobs and freebies has instant appeal.
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Reclaiming ground vs national parties: The NC had to differentiate itself from national parties and local rivals by offering a bold, people-centric agenda rather than incremental reforms.
However, this approach carries inherent risks: when promises are perceived as too ambitious or unrealistic, the gap between pledge and delivery becomes fodder for criticism.
Implementation Reality: Where the Gap Appears
Free Electricity Promise
One of the most cited welfare promises was “free 200 units of electricity for all households”.
What’s the current picture? According to local reports:
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The scheme has been restricted in scope, reportedly rolled out only to AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) households rather than universally.
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Eligibility criteria and technical riders (metering, categorisation, billing adjustments) have created confusion and exclusion.
It raises the question: if the promise was universal, why the restriction? A retired teacher in Anantnag voices the frustration: “Why promise universal relief if you can’t fund it?”
Underlying challenge: Free electricity involves large‐scale subsidy funding, metering infrastructure, billing adjustments, and financial sustainability. In a region with high power‐distribution losses, weak recovery, and budget constraints, delivering 200 units free universally could prove fiscally onerous.
Free Bus Travel for Women
Another bold assurance: free bus travel for women in public transport.
Reality check: Transport officials are reported to be warning that the scheme is running at a loss and lacking a sustainable funding or operational model. Without such a model, the scheme may be shelved within months. The official quoted terms it “jumla politics” (empty slogans).
Why does this matter? Transport subsidies have to find revenue offsets: either through state budget allocations, higher fares for others, or external funding. Over‐subsidising without compensatory revenue can distort service delivery, degrade quality, or force cancellation.
Free Gas Cylinder Scheme
The promise: free gas cylinders for poor families (12 per year) or free gas supply for EWS segments.
Status: The rollout remains vague. No publicly accessible detailed implementation plan, budget allocation or beneficiary list has been shared widely. Many households believed the scheme would begin immediately post‐election; as of now, there is little evidence of full implementation.
This gap between communication and execution fuels scepticism among voters.
Job Creation & Filling Vacancies
The manifesto pledged one lakh jobs for youth and to fill all vacancies in government departments within 180 days of formation.
Indicators of challenge:
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Media reports highlight that the budget presented by the NC government in J&K did not reflect corresponding provisioning or timelines aligned with the manifesto. The statement in a local bulletin describes the budget as “a complete U‐turn by the NC government on its Assembly election manifesto”.
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Given the scale—100,000 jobs in J&K, a relatively small territory—implementation requires both financial commitment and administrative capacity (examinations, selection, recruitment, posting) which is non-trivial.
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Unfilled vacancies in government departments remain a persistent issue, per critics.
Restoration of Article 370 / Statehood
The promise of restoring Article 370, 35A and full statehood remains a central political commitment of the NC.
Current status:
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There has been no indication from the central government that the special status will be restored in the near term. Constitutional and legal obstacles are significant.
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The NC’s ability to deliver on this depends less on its own administrative control and more on central government willingness and Parliament.
Hence, while the promise keeps political hope alive, it may create expectations that are structurally difficult to meet in a short time.
Why the Gap? Governance, Fiscal and Political Realities
The difference between the manifesto’s aspirations and current implementation can be attributed to multiple intersecting factors.
Fiscal Constraints
Many of the welfare guarantees (free electricity, free bus travel, free gas cylinders, large job creation) imply substantial recurring expenditures or capital outlays. For a region such as J&K, with structural development deficits, security‐related expenditures, and revenue constraints, mobilising sustainable financing is challenging.
When promises do not align with budgetary allocations or revenue‐streams, implementation naturally falters. The absence of transparent cost‐modelling in the public domain further erodes credibility.
Administrative Capacity and Implementation Mechanics
Good policy intent must be matched with rigorous administrative design: beneficiary identification, infrastructure readiness (metering, buses, cylinders, job portals), monitoring & evaluation systems, budgeting, departmental coordination, and avoidance of leakages.
In many cases, the gap appears to be in this “mechanism” layer rather than purely in the promise. For instance, free electricity needs metering, beneficiaries, billing‐adjustments; job creation needs process pipelines. Without adequate groundwork, even well-intentioned programmes get stuck.
Political Expectations and Electoral Timing
As noted, the manifesto was positioned as “guarantees” rather than contingent plans. This sets very high expectations among voters. When the electorate perceives delay or dilution, the legitimacy of the ruling party comes under pressure.
The NC’s decision to package such ambitious promises may have been driven by immediate political calculus (winning votes) rather than a fully worked out implementation plan, which in turn can lead to credibility erosion.
Context of J&K Governance
J&K’s governance environment post-2019 has been characterised by changes: loss of special status, UT reorganisation, additional administrative layers, security challenges, revenue pressures and altered centre‐region relations. These structural factors impose additional burdens on any government seeking to deliver quickly.
Hence, even if the NC is serious about delivering, its margin for manoeuvre may be constrained by broader systemic issues beyond its direct control.
Public Sentiment: Frustration, Cynicism and Accountability
Across the Valley, public sentiment appears to be shifting. Where high expectations once created optimism after the elections, a year later questions are being asked: “If you didn’t have a plan, why did you promise it?”
Some of the sentiments captured:
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Social-media posts accusing the NC of “selling dreams without blueprints”.
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Youth-forums and civil society gatherings articulating dissatisfaction with the pace and transparency of delivery.
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Retired professionals and long‐time voters voicing disbelief at promised schemes that remain unimplemented or only partially rolled out.
From a quote you provided:
“Why promise universal relief if you can’t fund it?” asked Gulzar Ahmad, a retired teacher from Anantnag.
This captures a broader mood: beyond the technicalities, many voters feel that their trust was bet on over‐bold commitments that now appear hollow.
Political Implications: Credibility, Opposition and Future Elections
Credibility Crisis for NC
For the NC, this moment is one of vulnerability. Having anchored its campaign on guarantees, the party now faces a credibility test. If promises remain unfulfilled, the party’s reputation as the region’s oldest political force may suffer.
Local body elections looming nearby will heighten scrutiny. If the NC cannot show visible progress, it may face erosion of voter trust and electoral setbacks.
Opposition Capitalising
Regional opponents and even national parties are likely to exploit the gap between promise and delivery. The Opposition’s narrative will be: “You promised so much; you delivered so little.” For instance, parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may accuse NC of “betraying Kashmir’s mandate”.
Effective opposition also means they can position themselves as credible alternatives, particularly if they point to specific unfulfilled commitments.
Shift in Voter Behaviour
Repeated disappointments can lead to broader voter apathy or cynicism. When promises become a recurring cycle of over-commitment and under-delivery, public disengagement rises, and smaller parties or independents may gain traction.
This has long-term implications for governance beyond one election: accountability becomes weaker, and populist commitments risk being de-linked from implementation.
Governance vs Politics
A crucial tension emerges: between the governing logic (budget, capacity, constraints) and the electoral logic (what voters want to hear). The NC’s challenge will be to bridge this gap—either by scaling down promises to what is doable, or by accelerating actual delivery in specific flagship areas to rebuild trust.
Moving Forward: What Should Happen For Course Correction
Transparent Monitoring & Public Reporting
The NC government should publish periodic progress reports on its major manifesto commitments: how many jobs created, how many households receiving free electricity, how the budget is allocated, timelines for schemes. Transparent metrics build confidence.
Prioritisation & Phased Delivery
Instead of simultaneous rollout of all promises, the government might focus on two or three marquee schemes where rapid visible progress is possible (for example: job creation, electricity relief for targeted groups) and build credibility before scaling up.
A clear roadmap with timelines, eligibility criteria and budget lines could lend credibility.
Fiscal Realism & Costing
Promises need to be matched with credible costing and budget allocations. A public disclosure of scheme costs, revenue sources, and long‐term sustainability would strengthen legitimacy.
Institutional Strengthening
For welfare guarantees to work, institutional capacity must be strengthened: effective transport infrastructure for free bus travel, administrative mechanisms for job recruitment, metering and billing for subsidised electricity, distribution channels for gas cylinders, etc.
Manage Expectations and Communication
It is better to clearly articulate what can be delivered and when rather than oversell. Honest communication about constraints, timelines and conditions builds trust—while unexplained delays breed disappointment.
Engaging Stakeholders
Civil society, youth organisations, transport unions, departmental officials, beneficiaries should be consulted in scheme design and rollout. Their involvement helps identify implementation bottlenecks early and can build grassroots ownership.
Conclusion
The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference’s 2024 manifesto was ambitious, bold and populist. It promised deep structural change (restoration of statehood/special status) and wide welfare measures (free electricity, jobs, travel, gas cylinders). But one year into governance, the gulf between promise and delivery is growing—raising questions of trust, governance, accountability and political credibility.
In a region like J&K, where development deficits are intertwined with political, constitutional and security challenges, the stakes are high. Voters are forgivable for hope, but less so for repeated unfulfilled guarantees. The NC must now demonstrate that its commitments were more than campaign rhetoric—they must translate into visible results on the ground.
For the people of Kashmir the simple question remains: when will we see the difference? When will the free electricity actually reach all households? When will the bus travel promise be sustainable? When will the jobs be real and accessible? Until those answers arrive, the trust that was placed may well feel betrayed.
The next 12-18 months will be critical. If the NC can pivot from promise to performance, it may salvage its standing and rebuild confidence. If not, it risks being remembered for populist flair rather than governance substance.
