J P Nadda drops a hint

The recent hint of BJP National President J P Nadda regarding possibility of simultaneous assembly and parliamentary polls in Jammu and Kashmir in April-May has alerted the leadership of other political parties also.

According to reports, Nadda dropped the hint recently while virtually addressing a meeting of J&K BJP’s core group. He directed the party leaders, workers and supporters to be in an absolute ready-mode for both the Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

When asked about Nadda’s hint, a senior J&K BJP leader Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal stated that holding the polls is the duty of Election Commission of India ( ECI) and that his party has to be ready for the polls whenever to be held and make all preparations in this direction.

Earlier also, some reports were doing rounds that Lok Sabha and assembly polls may be held same time. But in view of the  delay of years in the conduct of assembly elections much importance was not being given by the political circles to such reports. After the direction of Supreme Court to ECI, it was widely being believed that the assembly polls will be held in September.

Consequently, the parties were busy making preparations for the coming parliamentary polls. But now since the top leadership of BJP has talked about the possibility of simultaneous polls, the leaders have of other parties have got alerted. Now, the parties would like to intensify their assembly polls related preparations as well and plan strategies.

They will not wish to remain unprepared if the assembly polls are announced with the parliamentary elections. And if the two polls are not held simultaneously, the parties would get more time for preparing for assembly polls.

Because of the lack of snowfall till now in this winter, the political parties are able to hold public rallies and meetings in different parts of Kashmir. National Conference, PDP, Congress, BJP, Apni Party and Democratic Progressive Azad Party are very much visible on the ground despite the intense cold. PDP held a rally in Bijbehara on January 7 on the 8th death anniversary of its founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

After several years senior leader and former  deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig was seen together with other PDP leaders there. This followed a patch up between him and the PDP leadership after bitter differences. Not a surprise for many, going back of Muzaffar Baig to PDP is seen as a major development by some political circles here.

According to political observers, both the PDP and Baig needed each other and more importantly ahead of the coming crucial polls. Baig has been an important leader of PDP in past. He is the founding member of the party and has worked on important positions like finance minister, law minister and deputy chief minister when PDP was in power.

He was an MP and was made patron of PDP after the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Known to be having cordial relations with the leadership of central government and having been awarded Padma Bushan, Baig’s return to PDP has given the party the much needed boost.

According to political analysts PDP despite going through a very bad phase, has recovered a lot of lost ground and is now sending a message that it is back in a position to win elections for the senior leaders also. Some more leaders, who had left PDP in the past, may also come back since they are in touch with the leadership, reports say. Their return can strengthen the PDP at senior level and the party can then get back its  several strong candidates for the polls.

Some rival parties’ circles believe that return of Baig to PDP is a development but not that big one. According to them,  the PDP leadership cannot trust Baig that much because he can take any turn any time in future as he has done in the past.

They in this connection refer  as how during  the PDP- Congress coalition  government he as deputy chief minister became closer to the then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and tried to sideline Mufti and then again after the abrogation of Article 370, he extensively criticised Mehbooba Mufti’s policies.

However, those in the PDP view that such things happen in politics and political parties have gone through these type  of inner developments one way or the other.” In past PDP gave a political face to several persons, who were unknown politically till then.  But  now when  out of PDP, they are desperately trying to do things against us , “ said a leader.

While welcoming Baig back into PDP, the party president Mehbooba Mufti said  at the Bijbehara rally, “ Baig sahab calls me his younger sister. We in PDP are like a family. Differences do occur in families. We must leave behind what happened in the past and move forward for the good of PDP and the good of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Reports have started appearing in media that PDP may field Baig  as its candidate in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. Earlier also he has represented the constituency in the parliament as PDP leader. PDP, NC and Congress have not yet made it clear whether they will jointly contest the parliamentary polls or not.

They are part of the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc, which intends to fight Lok Sabha polls jointly against the BJP but have serious differences over the seat sharing arrangement. Congress is very much keen that in J&K and Ladakh it should go together with NC and PDP in the parliamentary polls.

Without naming PDP , the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief  Vikar Rasool Wani during a recent rally in Anantnag said, “One of our parties committed a mistake by bringing BJP here. This mistake should not be repeated. We must together contest and defeat the BJP.”

If the parties contest separately, PDP  hopes to win atleast Anantnag - Poonch seat, and now feels in a strong position in Baramulla constituency also due to Baig. NC believes that it has the bright chances of winning all the three seats- Srinagar, Anantnag - Poonch and Baramulla.

On the other hand, BJP views that besides winning Jammu and Udhampur seats, its chances of  winning even the Anantnag - Poonch are very much there. The party may field a strong candidate in the constituency. Congress intends to win the two Jammu and one Ladakh seat.

So the election related preparations will gain further momentum in coming weeks and months. If the assembly and parliamentary polls are really held simultaneously then Jammu and Kashmir will become a full fledged electoral battle field for the political parties.

Author is senior editor, Greater Kashmir