Prof. Farooq Fayaz
Amid strikingly opposite political ideologies, the fractured mandate given by the electorate of the state in the recently concluded Assembly Elections put the political pundits and the leaders of different political parties alike in a state of utter confusion and crises. True, unlike Jammu region, where electorate markedly preferred B.J.P. to other political parties, in Kashmir, though, Peoples Democratic Party succeeded in emerging as the single largest political party, yet, the electorate here in Kashmir delivered a divided verdict in favour of markedly opposite political entities. This, to great extent minimised the chances of P.D.P. to come forward with a commanding majority to enable it to form government without any external support. Given the immense sense of regional identity, rooted in Kashmir psyche, people of the valley failed to comprehend the supposed complexity of the emerging political chemistry of the state. This stands clearly reflected by the results of the recent elections. Amid diversity and division, the sense of unanimity, which even puzzled the matured political analysts, was the total rejection of B.J.P s Mission 44+ in Kashmir. Even against the expectations, Kashmiri Pandits could not help the Party to bag even a single seat from the valley.Contarary to this, the electorate in Jammu region, particularly from Jammu mainland, the Hindu majority out rightly this time rejected the traditional Congress Party and offered full support to ensure the commanding victory of B.J.P. candidates.
In the backdrop of post-partition political landscape and the subsequent developments, Kashmiris developed a deep sense of belongingness to the soil coupled with a strong feeling for the preservation of regional distinction and identity. During N.D.A’s government, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee when National Conference in total violation to its ideological stand, agreed to become the part of the government, it not only disappointed common Kashmiri’s, but, puzzled even the core supporters of the party. From this date, according to the data available, the popularity graph of the party started showing dwindling trend. In the recent elections, the trend reached to its lowest ever ebb when N.C succeeded in bagging only fifteen seats. The political vacuum, thus, created by N.C’s exclusive integrating approach was fulfilled by Mufti Mohammad Syed by floating P.D.P a new regional alternative that in turn succeeded in captivating the souls of common Kashmiris.
The legacy of good and effective governance left behind by Mufti Mohammad Syed during his short spell as Chief Minister and his commendable role in helping to create a congenial atmosphere which saw India and Pakistan coming very close to each other created a respectable space for Peoples Democratic Party and its leadership in the contemporary political landscape of the state.
In the light of fractured mandate, efforts are being put into operation to explore possibilities to form government by way of exploring new combinations. The P.D.P. leadership, seems well aware with the sensitivities involved in possible government formation in alliance with diametrically opposite political party like B.J.P., but the fact of the matter is, that, under present circumstances, the P.D.P’s agenda of progress and development coupled with its emphasis on regional identity and respect for human rights will prove a distant dream if the party prefers to have an alliance with the parties other than B.J.P.
As against the previous practice, people of Jammu region, this time preferred B.J.P.to Congress for variety of reasons. Instead of, divided verdict, the electorate from Jammu region, gave an overwhelming support in favour of particular political party. As a result of this clear stand, B.J.P succeeded in emerging as a largest single party from Jammu region. True, Hindu majority from Jammu region gave their preference in favour of B.J.P,but, it will be untrue to dub this mandate exclusively a verdict on communal lines. The verdict may be interpreted as an intense expression against the bad governance by Congress-National Conference combination. This is evidenced by the fact that B.J.P. not only won seats from Hindu majority in Jammu but even made its entry possible in Muslim majority areas of Pirpanchal and Chinab valleys. Further, the entry of valley Muslim youth in B.J.P in the recent times, provides, a clue that B.J.P. has ceased to be untouchable with a communal base for the valley Muslims particularly youth. The change can be dubbed as an expression that a sizeable section of Kashmiri youth prefers development to stagnation, peace to uncertainity, and progress to poverty.
Judged from people’s perspective, the agenda designed by P.D.P. for cobbling an alliance with B.J.P. is definitely reflective of felt aspirations of Kashmiri electorate. Given its wider canvas, the agenda covers both internal and external dimensions which according to the party sources need structured and focussed attention from the central B.J.P. leadership. As per the media reports, the state B.J.P. leadership finds itself more comfortable to have an alliance with National Conference than with P.D.P. To quote Party’s state vice-president and in-charge Kashmir affairs, Ramesh Arora “the stand of National Conference about government formation in Jammu & Kashmir with the saffron party is much softer than Peoples Democratic Party. N.C. like P.D.P. has also raised the issues like the revocation of AFSPA, with us but unlike P.D.P. its stand is soft and is ready to compromise. On the other hand, P.D.P.is in no mood to budge and is not to compromise on anything”. There is little doubt in the assertion made by state B.J.P.leader, given the compromising behaviour pattern adopted by N.C. leadership in near and remote past. But it will prove dangerous for B.J.P. coming into such alliance by ignoring P.D.P. which has emerged as the largest single party in the Kashmir valley. The P.D.P. leadership is equally alert to the fact that by ignoring B.J.P. its forging alliance with other valley based formulations would mean negating the aspirations of Jammu people. Such an un-pragmatic move is certain to prove diabolic for the unity and the political future of the state. The polarization exhibited by recent electoral results is not brazenly communal in nature, it is more a region centric democratic expression which contains its causes more in a strikingly opposite regional mindsets. This kind of political behaviour tends to mistrust, prejudice and bias. Doubtlessly, such feelings shadowed the political horizon of the state in the near past. But that sort of vicious and unfound atmosphere was more conditioned by petty personal interests rather than the result of a stated state policy.
Before the mature and seasoned political personalities immediate gains contain little meaning. What matters most is a cemented ideological commitment and longa-dure nature of political conviction. P.D.P’s self imposed distance from entering into any alliance to form a government is a clear indication that the party in no case wants to sacrifice its principles at the altar of government formation. What seems dearer to party is to respect the aspirations and feelings of the people who placed trust in the party carders and in its leadership. To respect the verdict of the people constitutes the cardinal principle of this party. During the last six years of marked mis-governance coupled with utter degree of mismanagement, particularly, during the September floods left all sections of society disappointed with the Congress-National Conference coalition government. The state’s financial health is so weak that in the days to come it will be a challenging job for any government to fulfil the pledges made to electorate during the election times. The state needs a massive financial package which is only possible when the Central government comes forward in aid of the state in an exemplary manner. If B.J.P-.P.D.P. Combination, in the days to come, becomes a reality there is every possibility that the state may get exemplary financial support from B.J.P. led Central government.
In the wider national interests and in the interests of the people of the state as well, B.J.Ps.central leadership is required to come forward with an enlightened and visionary stand to bring the state out from the current impasse. This is sure to help in lessening the deep sense of alienation which Kashmiris have cultivated, ever since the partition of the country, for wide variety of reasons.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel