Mahesh Chander Sudan
We, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, have once again been exposed to political outburst staged to pierce through fragile glass covered political spectrum of the Union Territory and to acquire a position of substance by Ghulam Nabi Azad, a veteran Congressman who have coordinated his loyalists and laid foundation for launching new political entity. The rally apparently was held to show his strength and impact the polity of Jammu and Kashmir primarily by weakening Congress and fetch public support for his future endeavor. Participation of around 70 defected congress leaders and ground public support noticed in the rally at Jammu are to be seen in varying connotations. As reported in the local media for last couple of days and also spread through words of mouth by his sympathizers, the rally was held to launch new political party and not for simple gathering to justify his resignation from the Indian National Congress. However, the political outburst staged by a leader of his stature would certainly affect the political landscape of the Union Territory both in terms of division of mandate and formation of future Government.
As a citizen of Independent India, he has his right to advance himself politically either by forming his own political party or remain part of the existing arrangement at this point of his career but all political leaders who intend remaining in public life are answerable to their supporters, sympathizers and to public at large. He deserves to be honored for his new endeavor at this point of time when his fellow citizens of the Union Territory are left helpless in exercising their democratic rights for one or the other reasons. It is also an established fact that he has been in politics for almost five decades and holds a position of substance amongst his contemporaries and would have minutely studied each step of his moves whether timing, collateral support, ideological aptness, public urge to accept change and few other important ingredients that would guide his course of sail. A leader of his seniority who have moved across the hierarchical pedestal and occupied places of importance throughout his political voyage especially while being in the same party earns him credit and public admiration. He though moved to remain in central politics but continued to maintain close contact with political set up of his home state. It is also an undeniable fact that he could hardly succeed in winning elections in J&K except for tenure of CM J&K from 2005 to 2008 as a part of coalition Government arrangement of Congress with PDP. Most of his tenure as a Parliamentarian remained restricted to Rajya Sabha (Upper House) except for one when he succeeded in winning Lok Sabha seat from Washim (Maharashtra) as Congress sponsored candidate and that speaks undoubtedly about his ability to remain in close confidential contact with Gandhi family that had also enabled him to hold the position of General Secretary in charge for most of the states. Despite moderate performance in electoral politics he could manoeuver positively to secure ministerial position as Minister of Health and Family Welfare with Dr. Manmohan Singh during UPA-I.
I am sure that his critics will also admit about his ability to remain calm, confident, cheerful and a soft spoken person who can extract positivity out of any situation and all these soft skills honed by him compel one to ponder over the present scenario that emerged on termination of his tenure as Rajya Sabha member that was quite eventful and well-orchestrated. His decision to resign from primary membership of Congress and return to state politics as real “AZAD” has attracted attention of people across the spectrum of multi polarized society in Jammu and Kashmir. It infers that his decision to return to state politics from the heights of his political career probably is designed and guided by other stake holders and is not merely out of compulsion. All these assumptions/presumptions would be answered in future, as the politics in any case is full of uncertainties.
The erstwhile state of J&K has passed through many ups and downs since 2018 when the coalition Government of PDP+BJP failed paving way for imposition of Governor Rule that continues till date. Withdrawal of Article 370 and 35A, reorganization of erstwhile state into two UTs turned the politics of J&K upside down unlike any other part of Indian Union. In the given scenario that ultimately denied democratic rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to elect their own Government created a deep rooted political vacuum and instilled a sense of helplessness amongst local residents for multiple reasons. Highest ever rate of unemployment, rampant corruption in public offices, recruitments and other public utility services like electricity, water etc apparently due to insufficient and inefficient administration under LG and his limited team of advisors needs no further elaboration. At this critical juncture, dramatic entry of Azad Sahib, as popularly known, may hopefully prove savior for commoners and to some extent expectedly realign political landscape of the UT provided it is not predesigned and guided toward prefixed agenda.
Interalia, the delay in launch of political party as highlighted by Mr Azad during public rally would not only prove unhealthy but also against the call of the hour. It is being opined by people across the sections of society that this bubbled political outburst of Azad factor may not last long and any delay in holding elections beyond six months would change the scenario. In the present times, he is seen a potent leader to hold the key but the passage of time may leave him as a contender only. His past track record of electoral politics especially in J&K as highlighted earlier may not adequately support the claim made by his followers and other stake holders. The sail for him is through rough weather and full of challenges that would test his ability to hold the sway as expected by poor people of the UT. However, future holds the key and expectedly his entry into state politics may help enlarging political spectrum of the UT for larger welfare of the people of JKUT who are longing to regain the status of statehood and form popular government through established constitutional provisions and in most democratic way.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
The author is Wg Cdr (Retd)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel