S. Narinder Singh
By forging alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party when Jammu and Kashmir was on the cross roads of its political history, Peoples Democratic Party President Mufti Mohammed Syeed in fact achieved a milestone. He had rightly described PDP’s alliance with the BJP as combination of North Pole-South Pole as both the parties’ ideologies are opposed to each other on many issues. It was actually a landmark decision in the history of the state. He was a leader with remarkable political acumen and a statesmanship. But, with the passing of Mufti Sayeed, the state has been plunged into uncertainty because of the lack of political leadership in both the coalition partners. It was expected that within 24 hours of his death, the arrangement will continue with Mehbooba Mufti taking over as the new Chief Minister. Her father had wished this over a month earlier as also during his illness.
Despite formal communication from Governor Mr N N Vohra to the coalition partners to form the government, it is strange why they didn’t come forward. Their failure led to gubernatorial rule. Mr Vohra had no other option but to recommend Governor’s Rule under the provisions of the J&K Constitution because; it was not possible for the state to remain headless any more. The expectations of the new government taking over before the Budget Session also did not materialize. The Budget Session, scheduled to begin from January 18, 2016 stands now cancelled.
However, there is nothing new for both the partners to delay the government formation. Last time, PDP and BJP had taken two months to forge an alliance and formed the government on 1st March, 2015 though the results of the Assembly elections were announced on 23rd December 2014.It is a sad state of affairs as no party is observing democratic norms and playing delay tactics despite clear mandate of the people of the state. If we view present position, PDP hasbeen reduced to 27 MLA’s with the death of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Given the situation, the party can muster support of an independent MLA from Zanskar- Mr. Bakir Hussain Rizvi. On the contrary, BJP has 25 MLA’s and support of three others including Pawan Gupta of Udhampur and two from Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference which shows that both the parties are on equal footing and none of the party has supremacy over the other. But so far, none of the party has claimed to form the government. However, it seems that the state BJP has no leader of stature who can come forward and muster the support of other parties to provide the government, which the people stand deprived of.
Firstly, BJP opposed to Mehbooba’s elevation as Chief Minister and unleashed feelers of the rotational Chief Minister. Now, the party is ready to accept her leadership and wants to have coalition with PDP to remain glued to power as they had never dreamt of such a scenario, thanks to Modi wave.
During its over 10 months’ tenure, the achievements of the coalition Government with regard to development of Jammu region has been zero. Except for launching construction of lanes, drains and blacktopping of roads by its MLA’s and ministers, the BJP has nothing to take credit of. In many cases, blacktopping has proved counter-productive due to non-observance of required temperature. They always believed in cheap publicity by projecting themselves garlanded for the routine works being done by JMC and PWD etc. They never came out of the streets and lanes. Even now they are seen inaugurating bathing Ghats. So to say, they remained mute spectators when Mufti Syeed kept thanking separatists, militants and Pakistan for smooth conduct of the elections in the state. They have never shown their existence, interest and concern for the Jammu region. During the coalition government, many contentious issues were raised which related to controversy regarding already settled issues like Jammu Tawi Lake and AIIMS for Jammu.
If BJP happens to form coalition government now, they should induct such of the MLAs and MLCs as ministers who are from their party cadre, not those who were opportunist and joined the party in the wake of Modi wave.
BJP has still more than 5 years term; they can emerge as real representatives of people by safeguarding their interest on secular lines.
It is not understood why the PDP has not so far staked its claim to form the government. Speculations were rife that Mehbooba Mufti would be sworn in as new Chief Minister on 08th January 2016. To please the new Chief Minster, the semi-government organizations like JK Bank and JKPCC had issued front page advertisements to leading newspapers to mourn the demise of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. However, that did not happen due to ‘observance of her being in shock’. It was again given out that the process of government formation will take place on January 11, after observing fourth day of late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on January 10. She is even reported to have told to BJP leaders Mr. Ram Madhav and Nitin Gadhari that she will not take any decision before the conclusion of her father’s fourth day congregation. In the meanwhile, during core group meeting, the PDP senior leaders, including legislators declared Mehbooba Mufti as undisputed leader of the party. She was authorized to take any decision for next course of action including formation of the new government though it was not a formal legislator’s party meeting. According to a former minister, PDP has not called formal meeting of the Legislative Party to elect its leader, as Mehbooba Mufti was in the process of seeking advice of her senior leaders with regard to formation of new Government.
“It could take more time as Mehbooba ji is not in a state of mind due to shock”, the former minister told the media.
Earlier, chief spokesman of PDP Dr. Mehboob Beigh had also claimed that PDP’s coalition with the BJP will continue but did not specify any time frame.
Under such circumstances, Governor Rule was imposed in the state with effect from 8th January pending formation of the new government as Mehbooba was not in a hurry. Thus the state has been plunged into constitutional crisis.
Question arises who is responsible for political and constitutional uncertainty in the state under such circumstances. The sensitive state like J&K cannot afford prolonged instability and political uncertainty. If Mehbooba Mufti is trained in a best political school and understands her responsibility, then why she didn’t come out of the mourning and shock to provide a duly elected government and bring out people of the state out of prolonged shock. As per media reports, senior leaders of the PDP held first meeting on 13th Jan; with president Mehbooba and decided to review the achievements if any made during last year before taking final decision on the formation of government and to assess how much PDP has succeeded in fulfilling Mufti’s vision. This can be done even after forming the Government.
Mufti made alliance with BJP on the agenda of governance so that the state ushers to new era of development. It is strange that why this party is adopting delay tactics in forming the government? A former minister has claimed that agenda of alliance is a sacred document and there has been much progress on that under Mufti Mohammed Sayed’s rule and the party has not set any new conditions before BJP. Then, why so much delay and why the people are being deprived of a representative government when both the parties have clear mandate. These are merely excuses as the PDP has the fear of losing its hold in the valley.
Despite reports that core group of PDP has authorized Mehbooba to take a final call on the government formation as the agenda is a sacred document for them, then what is the hitch? Initially, as per media reports, PDP had imposed certain conditions like no deputy CM, PDP holding important portfolios like power and BJP not to pressurize and put any condition regarding sensitive issues. It seems that there are differences among the leaders in having alliance with BJP like Mr. Hameed Kara who want alliance with secular party like Congress.
It is explicitly clear that some senior leaders and political advisers are exploiting Mehbooba Mufti’s reluctance. If at all she is not inclined to take over the responsibility, the only solution is to dissolve the assembly and hold fresh elections.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President National Conference and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have rightly have rightly asked the PDP-BJP duo to form the government without further delay for the betterment of the people as the state cannot afford any more political instability. Moreover the alliance partners have full mandate of the people so they should form the government immediately and end the instability as the people who have already suffered a lot want solution to their problems. The National Conference has already pointed out that it has no numbers to form the government.
The ball is now in PDP- BJP court to form the government and end uncertainty or else elections will remain the only recourse.
(The author is former Director Information)
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