Parties’ heads concerned about their individual victories

Srinagar, Sep 22: Gone are the days when the heads of political parties would not bother much about campaigning in their respective constituencies during assembly elections. They mostly used to be very sure about their victories. Consequently, the party chiefs would focus on other constituencies to have more seats for their parties.

But the times have changed now. They can no longer take the voters for granted. The days are over when the heads of the political parties believed that their mere presence in the electoral fray is a guarantee for their victory.

The increasing power of voters because of more awareness among them and their determination to make the candidates accountable for their past performance and promises are making the party heads insecure about their electoral fate. The possibility of more division of votes in an unpredictable poll scenario is also giving them sleepless nights. Subsequently, they are focusing more on their respective constituencies. While they can be seen in other constituencies occasionally also, their main thrust is on their own assembly segments. The party chiefs do not want to see themselves getting defeated in this crucial assembly poll as winning is seen highly important for their political survival.

They know how demoralising their individual defeats are not only for them but also for their parties and their cadres. The defeat of two former chief ministers, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, in recent parliamentary polls proved shocking for them and their parties. Their opponents described it as the beginning of the end of the dynastic politics era in Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah is the Vice President of the National Conference (NC) but he was running the entire show for his party in the parliamentary polls and is also strategising the assembly elections for the party.  He is contesting assembly polls from two constituencies, Ganderbal and Budgam.

For doing so, Omar is being criticised by rivals, who accuse him of being insecure. BJP and some other leaders claim that he would lose both seats. The NC Vice President has justified his decision and has launched a counter-attack against his opponents for criticising him on the issue. Realising the gravity of the situation, he is giving more time to his campaigning in the two constituencies.

Mehbooba Mufti said that she would not contest assembly polls since Jammu and Kashmir has been rendered to a union territory from a powerful state. But her opponents say that she should have contested and led from the front. They say that due to the fear of another defeat, she avoided fighting the polls this time. Mehbooba did not campaign for her party candidates on a large scale and extensively as she used to do in past elections. However, fearing the defeat of some of the important candidates, she laid more stress on these constituencies and did not campaign in rest other constituencies in a big way.

J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina too is concerned more for his Nowshera assembly constituency in Jammu. Otherwise, he in the past would be seen in every corner of Jammu and Kashmir campaigning for his party.

Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari is busy in a hectic and extensive door-to-door election campaign in his Chanapora constituency. He is also holding rallies as well in the constituency. Bukhari had almost single-handedly introduced his party in every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir after it was founded a few years back. He is presently holding a series of public meetings and rallies to get public support. But the parliamentary polls results also made him work harder in his own constituency in the assembly election. Such engagement is preventing him from campaigning rigorously in other constituencies, where his party candidates are fielded, in a big way.

This important election is being watched keenly not only for the parties' performance but also for the individual performance of party heads. They have very high stakes in these elections. Understanding this fully, they want to persuade the voters, who hold the key to their victory or defeat, to vote for them and make them effectively relevant for future politics.