The October 2024 Assembly Elections in Kashmir region brought about a discernible change in the way political candidates interacted with voters, frequently depending on theatrical public performances. In this context the paper analyzes the theatrical spectacle in the evolving dynamics of electoral campaigns in Kashmir, particularly focusing on the use of dramatic public displays by two known faces, Iltija Mufti and Omer Abdullah, of two major political parties, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC), respectively. This study explores the ways in which these parties and their top leaders have used theatrical spectacles, intentionally or unintentionally, to influence public opinion, increase their visibility, and engage voters throughout the electoral process. The study employs a qualitative multi-case study method which is exploratory in nature with discourse and content analysis of speeches and media coverage of news reports, televised coverage, and videos. The paper concludes that Kashmir is witnessing the birth of new dynasts like Iltija Mufti, Omar Abdullah, and the likes of Abrar Rashid, some already established while others are trying to deepen their roots. The paper suggests that for the development of Kashmir, strategic-realistic leadership is needed who understand politics is a tool for relieving the pains of suffering people, not to hold on to the chairs of their fathers and forefathers.
| Published in | Journal of Public Policy and Administration (Volume 9, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16 |
| Page(s) | 269-275 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Assembly Elections, Theatrical Spectacle, National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, Article 370 Abrogation
| [1] | The Economic Times. (2024, October 14). Jammu and Kashmir: President's rule officially revoked, paves way to form government. The Economic Times. Retrieved from |
| [2] | Doshi, G. N. (2024, October 12). Tracing BJP’s increasing dominance in Jammu since 1987 Assembly polls. The Hindu. Retrieved from |
| [3] | Editorial Economic and Political Weekly. (2020, October 31). On People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration. Economic and Political Weekly, 55(44). |
| [4] | Amin M, Irfan (2024): “Jammu & Kashmir: The Collapse of the Gupkar Alliance Right Before the Elections,” News Source, 2 April. |
| [5] | Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Doubleday. |
| [6] | Arendt, H. (1958). The human condition. University of Chicago Press. |
| [7] | Sennett, R. (1977). The fall of public man. Alfred A. Knopf. |
| [8] | Edelman, M. (1988). Constructing the political spectacle. University of Chicago Press. |
| [9] | Debord, G. (1994). The society of the spectacle. Zone Books. (Original work published 1967). |
| [10] | Shapiro, M. J. (1999). Cinematic political thought: Narrating race, nation, and gender. NYU Press. |
| [11] | Auslander, P. (1999). Liveness: Performance in a mediatized culture. Routledge. |
| [12] | Brecht, B. (1964). Brecht on theatre: The development of an aesthetic (J. Willett, Ed. & Trans.). Methuen Drama. |
| [13] | Khuehami, Nasir, and Jamal, Ummar (2024): “Engineer Rashid’s Victory in Baramulla is a Silent Message for Kashmiri Dynasts,” News Click, 13 June. |
| [14] | Asian News Hub (2024): “From Jail to Ballot: Engineer Rasheed's Son Unveils 5 Years of Pain and Hope,” YouTube, |
| [15] | Fareed, Rifat, and Ali, Arbab (2024): “‘Vote Against Jail’: How Two Modi Critics Won India Election from Prison,” Al Jazeera, 14 June. |
| [16] | Geelani, Gowhar (2024): “Why PDP is a Sinking Ship in 2024,” The Wire, 23 September. |
| [17] | Freud, S. (1901): The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, Macmillan. Standard Edition: 10.1037/10581-000. |
| [18] | Savera (2024): “Iltija Mufti Energizes Kangan Rally with Famous 'Zoon O' Slogan in Support of Party Candidate,” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo9cExn0jI0, 21 September. |
| [19] | ANI News (2024): “‘Parties Must Overcome Differences…’ Iltija Mufti Emphasises on Unity Ahead of J&K Assembly Election,” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDzKWhfdwbw, 25 August. |
| [20] |
Greater Kashmir (2024): “Omar Abdullah Removes Cap, Appeals Voters with 'Folded Hands' to Elect Him from Ganderbal,” YouTube,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3MZZ6j6Psc, 4 September. |
APA Style
Mir, M. R., Kumar, S., Nazir, A. (2025). Analyzing the Eccentric Theatrical Spectacle of People's Democratic Party and National Conference: A Case Study of 2024 Assembly Elections in Kashmir. Journal of Public Policy and Administration, 9(4), 269-275. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16
ACS Style
Mir, M. R.; Kumar, S.; Nazir, A. Analyzing the Eccentric Theatrical Spectacle of People's Democratic Party and National Conference: A Case Study of 2024 Assembly Elections in Kashmir. J. Public Policy Adm. 2025, 9(4), 269-275. doi: 10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16
@article{10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16,
author = {Musssaib Rasool Mir and Santosh Kumar and Abrar Nazir},
title = {Analyzing the Eccentric Theatrical Spectacle of People's Democratic Party and National Conference: A Case Study of 2024 Assembly Elections in Kashmir},
journal = {Journal of Public Policy and Administration},
volume = {9},
number = {4},
pages = {269-275},
doi = {10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jppa.20250904.16},
abstract = {The October 2024 Assembly Elections in Kashmir region brought about a discernible change in the way political candidates interacted with voters, frequently depending on theatrical public performances. In this context the paper analyzes the theatrical spectacle in the evolving dynamics of electoral campaigns in Kashmir, particularly focusing on the use of dramatic public displays by two known faces, Iltija Mufti and Omer Abdullah, of two major political parties, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC), respectively. This study explores the ways in which these parties and their top leaders have used theatrical spectacles, intentionally or unintentionally, to influence public opinion, increase their visibility, and engage voters throughout the electoral process. The study employs a qualitative multi-case study method which is exploratory in nature with discourse and content analysis of speeches and media coverage of news reports, televised coverage, and videos. The paper concludes that Kashmir is witnessing the birth of new dynasts like Iltija Mufti, Omar Abdullah, and the likes of Abrar Rashid, some already established while others are trying to deepen their roots. The paper suggests that for the development of Kashmir, strategic-realistic leadership is needed who understand politics is a tool for relieving the pains of suffering people, not to hold on to the chairs of their fathers and forefathers.},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Analyzing the Eccentric Theatrical Spectacle of People's Democratic Party and National Conference: A Case Study of 2024 Assembly Elections in Kashmir AU - Musssaib Rasool Mir AU - Santosh Kumar AU - Abrar Nazir Y1 - 2025/12/17 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16 DO - 10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16 T2 - Journal of Public Policy and Administration JF - Journal of Public Policy and Administration JO - Journal of Public Policy and Administration SP - 269 EP - 275 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2640-2696 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jppa.20250904.16 AB - The October 2024 Assembly Elections in Kashmir region brought about a discernible change in the way political candidates interacted with voters, frequently depending on theatrical public performances. In this context the paper analyzes the theatrical spectacle in the evolving dynamics of electoral campaigns in Kashmir, particularly focusing on the use of dramatic public displays by two known faces, Iltija Mufti and Omer Abdullah, of two major political parties, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC), respectively. This study explores the ways in which these parties and their top leaders have used theatrical spectacles, intentionally or unintentionally, to influence public opinion, increase their visibility, and engage voters throughout the electoral process. The study employs a qualitative multi-case study method which is exploratory in nature with discourse and content analysis of speeches and media coverage of news reports, televised coverage, and videos. The paper concludes that Kashmir is witnessing the birth of new dynasts like Iltija Mufti, Omar Abdullah, and the likes of Abrar Rashid, some already established while others are trying to deepen their roots. The paper suggests that for the development of Kashmir, strategic-realistic leadership is needed who understand politics is a tool for relieving the pains of suffering people, not to hold on to the chairs of their fathers and forefathers. VL - 9 IS - 4 ER -