Power Struggle Unfolds in Banned Jamaat-e-Islami Amid Leadership Rift

Swift summary

• A power struggle has emerged within the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Ghulam Mohammed bhat, supported by 35 of JeI’s 40-member Shoora, is leading efforts to take control of the organisation.
• Analysts interpret this as an attempt by JeI to negotiate lifting of its five-year ban recently extended by the government.
• Bhat distanced JeI from terrorism in 1999, creating a factional split that led hardliners like Syed Ali Shah Geelani to form Tehreek-i-Hurriyat (TeH) in 2003.
• internal dissent intensified when members of a faction led by Ghulam Qadir Wani contested parliamentary elections under the Justice and growth Front (JDF), but lost. This led Shoora members opposing them and forming a new setup under Bhat’s leadership.
• JDF’s weakness triggered further divisions and jeopardized its political coalition wiht People Conference leader sajad Lone’s People’s Alliance for Change (PAC).
• Some Jamaat cadres unsuccessfully contested elections post-ban, signaling ideological shifts within the outfit since government crackdowns began in 2019.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The ongoing internal fissures within Jamaat-e-Islami signify deeper challenges faced by banned organisations seeking reintegration into conventional political frameworks. ghulam Mohammed Bhat’s efforts to reformulate JeI’s approach reflect attempts at distancing from hardline positions that previously defined its identity. Such internal restructuring arises amid heightened government scrutiny under UAPA against groups perceived as threats to national security.

JeI’s potential recalibration towards negotiation with authorities follows unsuccessful electoral attempts marking ideological evolution but lack electoral resonance among voters. The group’s fragmented state not only limits organizational cohesion but also complicates initiatives like PAC intended for broader political consolidation.

For India, these developments carry significance beyond jammu & Kashmir; they emphasize challenges posed by banned entities navigating security concerns while attempting mainstream legitimacy. Sustained vigilance is required as such transformations might reshape regional dynamics without instant resolutions or stability guarantees.

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