Srinagar, June 6 -- By Dr. Ashraf Zainabi

Jammu and Kashmir has spent much of its political history circling the same names.

Public life has revolved around two powerful centers of influence: the Abdullah family and the Mufti family.

One became "saheb" in everyday political vocabulary, the other "meem-saheb."

These labels sound local and affectionate, but their deeper significance tells a different story: an entire region gradually narrowed its political imagination to a handful of surnames.

That focus of political attention may once have appeared natural, but today, it reveals a deeper problem.

Even within party structures, known names continue to outweigh merit, fresh thinking and new leadership.

Jammu and Kashmir in 2026 bears l...