Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Aug 29: Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, a moderate veteran Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) leader, was elected as new “emir” or chief of the party replacing Muhammad Abdullah Wani on Saturday.
The spokesman of JeI, Advocate Zahid Ali Lone, confirmed to Excelsior that Bhat has been elected as new party chief. There were seven contestants for the post of Jama’at chief including former chief Abdullah Wani. However Bhat emerged as victorious by securing 61 votes while as Wani secured 42 votes.
Bhat is seen as moderate and pro-dialogue figure in JeI. In 1997, Bhat as JeI chief, dissociated his party from largest militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and also denounced “gun culture” in the state. It is widely believed that he is not in good terms with separatist hawk and chairman of his Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Geelani as latter slammed Bhat when he disassociated JeI from Hizbul Mujahideen.
JeI observers say Bhat would work towards strengthening his party and would primarily focus on “propagation of religion”. “And, when it comes to Kashmir conflict, he would favour peaceful settlement and talks,” they said.
Bhat is also believed to have played an important role in bringing Jama’at-e-Islami close to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) prior to 2002 polls. The JeI workers and supporters “voted en-masse” in 2002 for PDP in south Kashmir, which helped the latter to defeat its arch-rival National Conference (NC).
The JeI has always been on logger heads with NC and both the parties accuse each of inflicting causalities on their respective workers in 90s. Both have fought elections against each other before the eruption of militancy in the State. The prominent legislator of JeI was separatist leader Geelani – three-time MLA from Sopore constituency. Geelani left the electoral politics after insurgency started in the valley and now heads an amalgam of Hurriyat as well as his own group.
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