A coalition of conviction

Krishan Anand
Ashok Kumar, a resident of Bishna, a small village in Jammu, 3 kilometres away from the India-Pakistan border, voted for Modi in the recently commenced assembly elections in J&K. He did not know who the BJP candidate was, from his constituency. What he did know is that he had voted for a better education for his son, better roads, less corruption and a brighter future for the Jammu region, promises that Narendra Modi had made during his election campaign. Ashok who is a Hindu had also voted for the BJP to keep the PDP at bay. In light of the Modi wave across India, the voter turnout in the Muslim dominated Kashmir valley was the highest in recent times, trying to make sure the valley remains green and isn’t saffron clad.
Politics is the art of possibilities and the unthinkable has happened. An economist from Kashmir who recently joined the PDP along with a popular face from the RSS/BJP over a period of 2 months have carefully woven an alliance between the PDP and BJP in what has been one of the most tedious agenda-setting exercises in recent history. The BJP and PDP coming together clearly indicates that someday the sun can rise from the west.
Till a few years ago, no one would have imagined the BJP could win 25 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, but that was a few years ago. Even one week is a very long time in politics. Now along with the PDP, the BJP, will influence governance and the course of political events in Jammu and Kashmir, the only state in India where the majority of the population is Muslim. An alliance between the BJP, a Hindu nationalist party and PDP, a party known for its soft stand on Kashmiri separatists is historic indeed. As Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said, “it is the meeting of the north and South Pole”. I look at it from another angel, Saffron meets green, and these are the colours of India and the power of true democracy.
A flight from Delhi to Srinagar takes 1 hour and a journey by road 16 hours, but the emotional distance has remained for the last 67 years. That distance   will be bridged by the current PDP-BJP coalition in the state backed by the BJP in the centre. It also could go the other way and threaten the political future of both parties in the state. What will eventually happen, God only knows.
Both parties have risen above party interests and demonstrated statesmanship in the formation of the Government, leaving behind contentious and region-centric politics. It is a coalition of conviction and not of convenience. This is not a coalition Government where parties bearing similar ideologies come together; this is a governance alliance for the greater good of all the stake holders, much like a corporate merger, based on an agreement and agenda. By giving Sajjad lone (An ex-separatist leader) a place in the cabinet, the coalition has made itself clear that they are working towards widening the ambit of democracy and working through inclusive politics.
A coherent and effective policy that combines the states socio-economic and political aspirations is the need of the hour. Economic reconstruction and development of the state must be the first priority of this new alliance Government.  The agenda of the alliance emphasises on avenues to solve the fiscal problem of the state by securing shares in the profits of NHPC emanating from J&K waters, revising all royalty agreements, starting a thermal power project in J&K. In addition to this the coalition also plans to set up satellite cities  around Jammu and Srinagar and model business villages in the valley and Jammu region. The Government also plans to fulfil the aspirations of the Jammu region by creating an independent tourism circuit for the region. The promises have been made, but will they be delivered? Only time will tell.
There is a need to mobilise adequate physical and financial resources from alternate sources for the reconstruction of the state’s economy. I suggest the corporate sector should be approached to provide support for various socio-economic activities under CSR schemes. This Government should work in tandem with the captains of the industry to build a robust economy. The Government must be open to the expertise, resources and wealth of knowledge that NGO’s and civil society can bring to the table and ultimately build strategic partnerships as their roles are complimentary.
As for Ashok Kumar, he now is least bothered about who is in power, whether it is the BJP or the PDP or both parties together. All he wants is his son to have a good education and get a good job. He says “I am a driver in the home, the day my son earns well and can buy a car it will be ‘Ache din’ for us”. With the election over and the Government in place, people are not thinking about politics and instead are interested in results. The aam aadmi on the street says “unemployed youth should get jobs; infrastructure should be developed in the state, and the homes destroyed in the floods should be rebuilt”.
Now that the state is stuck with this coalition, operating strictly on the dotted line may be in the interests of the state as well as of the two parties entering into this marriage of conviction. Any faltering on either’s part may push the state into a dangerous situation and also be the end of their own respective stories. The honeymoon period has not lasted very long. Mufti Sayeed’s statement “Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants allowed conducive atmosphere for Assembly  elections in  Jammu and  Kashmir” invoked strong reactions from the opposition and the BJP. All I can say is “Aise Badi badi coalition’s main aisi choti choti baatain hoti reheti hai”.
(The author is the Chairman of the Rebuild J&K Foundation)

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