In Jammu and Kashmir, political migration has become as predictable as the changing seasons. Every time an election rolls around, a familiar ritual plays out: politicians who spent years fiercely defending one ideology suddenly wake up with a newfound passion for another. Principles are quietly swept under the rug, loyalties are rewritten overnight, and political parties are treated less like platforms for public service and more like Uber rides, used purely to get to the destination of power. The latest example? Former Baramulla DDC chairperson Safina Baig’s leap over to the ruling National Conference. While anyone in a democracy has the right to change their mind and join a new party, these frequent, convenient defections force us to ask a glaring question: Are these moves actually about serving the public, or are they just about personal survival?
If politicians think voters are still blindly following them from one camp to the next, they are in for a reality check. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have grown incredibly politically savvy. The days of voters passively accepting whatever new alliance is thrown at them are fading fast. Recent elections have sent a loud and clear message: credibility, track record, and genuine commitment matter far more than whatever party flag a candidate happens to wave on election day. The Reality of Political Trust: Trust takes a lifetime to build at the grassroots level, but it can vanish in a single moment of opportunism. You can transfer a politician’s name to a new party roster, but you cannot simply transfer the public’s faith along with it.
For the political parties themselves, welcoming every defecting heavyweight with open arms is a dangerous game. Sure, it makes for great headlines and creates the illusion of momentum. But what about the loyal, everyday workers? The Sacrifice: Grassroots workers spend decades building the party from the ground up, often standing by it through its darkest days. The Disconnect: When a party ignores these loyalists to roll out the red carpet for a newcomer who only showed up because the political winds changed, it crushes morale.
Democracy is built on the freedom of choice, but it also demands a spine. Leaders who repeatedly jump ship owe the public a real explanation, not just the usual, tired cliché about “wanting to serve the people.” If a politician’s core beliefs shift every time power changes hands, it’s fair to wonder if they ever had any beliefs to begin with.
At the end of the day, the people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be taken for granted. Turncoats can always find a new stage to stand on and a new slogan to shout, but winning back the respect of a discerning public is a much steeper climb. Power will always attract politicians. But in the grand scheme of things, power is temporary, integrity is what earns lasting respect. Parties can welcome turncoats all they want, but it’s the voters who decide if they actually get to stay.
