Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar

Srinagar, Jun 30: A new political coalition, the People’s Alliance for Change, was launched in Srinagar on Monday, bringing together the Peoples Conference (PC), Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), and the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Justice and Development Front. The announcement was made at a joint press conference led by PC chief Sajad Gani Lone, along with leaders from the allied parties, in what is being positioned as a bid to challenge the prevailing political status quo in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lone described the current political environment in the Union Territory as “barren,” declaring that the newly formed alliance intends to fill the vacuum with a “viable and accountable alternative.” Joined by senior Shia leader and fellow PC member Imran Raza Ansari, and PDF's Hakeem Yasin, the alliance leaders pledged to uphold democratic rights and address what they termed a deepening crisis of leadership and public trust in the region.

Shamim Ahmad Thokar, president of the Justice and Development Front—reportedly backed by Jamaat-e-Islami—also endorsed the collective initiative, stating that fragmented efforts had failed and that uniting under a common banner was essential to serve the people meaningfully. The organisational structure of the alliance is expected to be announced soon.

While Lone emerged victorious in the 2024 Assembly elections from Handwara, other prominent alliance figures like Ansari and Yasin suffered narrow defeats, highlighting the challenging political terrain they must navigate. The Justice and Development Front, too, struggled in its traditional strongholds, including Kulgam, where its candidate lost to CPI(M)’s Yusuf Tarigami.

The emergence of this new alliance comes at a time of political flux in the Valley, and its success will depend on whether it can resonate with a population that has grown weary of both conflict and unfulfilled promises. The big question remains whether this coalition can break through the dominance of entrenched players like the National Conference and the PDP, and whether it will manage to draw participation from leaders in the Jammu region as well.

As the political realignment unfolds, all eyes will be on how quickly—or whether at all—the People’s Alliance for Change can translate its rhetoric into tangible public support on the ground.