After the assembly election schedule

Political developments are occurring at a fast pace in Jammu and Kashmir after the assembly election schedule was recently announced. Tremors are also being felt in some parties due to resignation of some leaders, who are joining other parties or are in the process of doing so. The notification for the first phase of polls has also been issued. The special summary revision of photo electoral rolls also concluded.

The political parties are joining the electoral fray in a big way. Congress removed Vikar Rasool Wani from the post of the President of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee ( JKPCC) and appointed senior leader Tariq Hamid Karra in his place. Among the political parties, National Conference was first to release its poll manifesto. Apni Party says it has also finalised its manifesto and would be making it public soon.

PDP and BJP issued the list of their respective incharges for several assembly constituencies. These incharges are finally expected to get the mandate. Iltija Mufti, daughter and media advisor of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, has been made incharge for the Bijbehara constituency. This indicates that Mehbooba may not contest the elections. Reports say that the issuance of the list has not gone down well with some leaders and their supporters.

Either the names of these leaders are not figuring in the list or their constituencies have been changed this time. It is to be seen that how Mehbooba is going to tackle this problem. Party’ s Chief Spokesperson Suhail Bukhari has resigned. However, PDP got some solace as former minister Haq Khan is back in the party fold.

National Conference has kept the suspence going regarding who among Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah will finally contest the assembly polls. Omar at a recent press conference said that he would talk on the issue on the day when NC releases the list of its candidates. The NC’s manifesto has generated a debate in the political circles. BJP has strongly reacted to it saying the manifesto promotes separatism and terrorism. The party said it would approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) in this direction.

Among other things the NC manifesto promises striving for restoration of autonomy, Article 370 and 35- A besides the statehood. The resolution urges centre to consider the demand for restoration of greater autonomy. The party has also talked about release of political prisoners and encouraging Indo- Pak talks.

With its election manifesto NC wants to get maximum number of seats and dominate the election scene. But can the party do so; this all will be known on the election result day. In past the NC could not keep its promise of getting the autonomy restored. The party’s opponents say that NC preferred power over its demand in 1975 when its founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was made chief minister with Congress support.

This time NC played a big electoral gamble by promising to strive for restoration of autonomy, Article 370 and 35-A despite fully knowing that its track record in doing so is not that credible. The important thing is to watch how the new crop of voters would view its such promises.

It seems that NC has drafted the manifesto by keeping in mind that it will not form any poll alliance with Congress. However, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah declared that the talks for alliance with Congress are about to begin. There are also repots of senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge visiting Jammu and Kashmir. Their visit is seen in the backdrop of efforts to stich an alliance or some kind of seat sharing arrangement between NC and Congress. If the alliance is really formed it is to be seen what impact the NC manifesto can have for Congress in Jammu. Generally Congress leaders from Jammu would not like to go to their voters with such promises of its alliance partner.

With the change of JKPCC president, it appears that Congress leadership in New Delhi wants to focus more also on Kashmir, including Srinagar. An upset Vikar Rasool Wani had alleged that he was removed from the post under a conspiracy and that some people in the party do not want a leader from other side of the Jawahar Tunnel at the top position in the party, and later in government.

Media persons also asked Karra about Wani’s absence in the welcome function for him in the Congress office in Srinagar. The new PCC Chief said that his predecessor was busy with some work in his constituency and that he had stated to join later. Regarding election scenario, Karra said that atmosphere is conducive for Congress to win the elections. “The foundation for Congress victory has been laid with the goodwill generated by the senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Judoo Yatra. The need of the hour is to channelise this good will,” he said.

He stated that Congress is open for talks with like minded parties including PDP and NC for poll alliance. The outburst of Vikar Rasool Wani after his removal from JKPCC post can create some problems to Congress party at the election time in the Chenab Valley.

Congress has a long history of factionalism. However, despite factionalism the party ruled J&K for long directly or indirectly ( through coalition governments) and was considered a king maker party till 2014 assembly polls. But things changed drastically later. However, now the party is on the path of recovery and expecting better performance both in Jammu, and Kashmir regions.

This particularly after Ghulam Nabi Azad could not damage it as was being predicted after he left the party and formed his own party Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP). Those who had gone to DPAP are returning to Congress one after the other.

Apni Party too faced departure of two of its leaders. First Usman Majid left and later Zaffar Iqbal. However, the party has several senior leaders still with it.

 Author is senior editor, Greater Kashmir