Political parties back in action

After taking a break, following the recent parliamentary (Lok Sabha) elections, the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are slowly back in action to prepare for the assembly polls. They are trying to leave behind the impact of setbacks, received due to some shocking defeats, and are in the process of moving on. There is no other option left for them but to join the highly important assembly electoral battle with fresh enthusiasm and new strategies. Assembly polls will be held in J&K after 10 years amid a changed political and geographical scenario following the August 5, 2019 decisions by the central government. As per the Supreme Court direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) these elections have to be held by September 30 this year. That means less than three months are left for the political parties for making preparations, formally announcing their candidates and  organising massive campaigning.

The premier political party, National Conference (NC), is holding a two day working committee meeting on July 4 and 5 with a special focus on the assembly polls. Party President Dr Farooq Abdullah will preside over the meeting. NC has formed a committee headed by senior leader Abdul Rahim Rather to draft its election manifesto. PDP recently held its parliamentary affairs committee meeting to review its performance in Lok Sabha polls and to chalk out strategy for assembly polls. A few day back Apni Party also convened a meeting during which a demand was made by the party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari to the central government for restoration of statehood to J&K before assembly polls. BJP also held election related meetings and the party cadres were directed to gear up for elections. The party executive will meet on July 5 and 6 in Jammu to formulate its plan for the assembly polls. Besides BJP President J P Nadda, the National General Secretary and party in-charge J&K Affairs Tarun Chugh, and co-incharge Ashish Sood are also likely to take part.

Some time back, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) leaders had a meeting in New Delhi with their central leadership. During the meeting the assembly polls were discussed and so were the preparations and the strategies. Among others Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha  Rahul Gandhi participated in the meeting.

Congress and NC being part of the national level opposition parties’ I.N.D.I.A bloc had jointly contested the last Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir. It is not yet known whether the two parties will form a pre-poll alliance in assembly polls also. Some of the leaders in the two parties are in favour of the alliance to prevent division of votes. After the defeat of its senior leader Omar Abdullah in the parliamentary polls, NC would not like repetition of such a situation in the assembly polls. The party which seemed very confident before the start of Lok Sabha seems lacking that confidence now after Omar’s defeat. NC leadership fears more shocking surprises in store for their party during assembly polls. But then seat sharing between NC and Congress will also be a challenging task. The local Congress leadership would not like to give lion’s share to NC. However, in case of any friction on the issue, the view of central leadership of Congress would be final. The AICC leadership would not like to give any edge to BJP and its like minded parties in J&K.

Right now the poor performance of BJP’s like minded parties in parliamentary polls in Kashmir is a big solace for NC, Congress and even PDP. This has affected the morale of these parties. Apni Party has leaders, who in past have won elections on the mandate of other parties. Some of them were even ministers. But can they repeat  their performance in assembly polls now is a big question?

The sudden and possible arrival of candidates like that of Er Rashid on the assembly election scene can be a cause of concern for NC, PDP and Congress. Assembly polls provide more scope for the entry of such candidates in the electoral arena and their victories.

There can be fresh efforts at various levels in the I.N.D.I.A bloc to stich a pre-poll alliance among NC, Congress and PDP. Similar efforts were made during parliametary polls but those attempts failed. While NC and Congress formed the alliance, PDP was not accomodated. NC was in no mood for an alliance with PDP on the grounds that the party is finished at the ground level. The PDP could not win any seat in parliamentary polls and even Mehbooba Mufti lost. The election results indicated that despite the defeats, PDP is not completely finished and is on the path of recovery and may take some more time for full political recovery. PDP came at number two place in Anantnag-Rajouri and Srinagar Lok Sabha constituencies.

BJP is happy with the victory on two seats in Jammu but the increasing influence of Congress is a problem. If the issues and problems being faced by the local people in Jammu flared up during assembly polls, this cannot be a positive sign for the BJP. J&K BJP cannot always depend on their central leadership to win elections for them. Barring a few leaders, others in the party’s J&K unit refuse to come out of their comfort zones and grow politically. If in any election the magic of central leadership did not click in Jammu, the J&K BJP can be in deep trouble. The assembly polls can create such a situation if corrective measures are not taken in time by the party. During the  last 10 years of BJP rule at centre, the J&K unit of the party had ample chances to get the problems of local people solved and strengthen itself. Either the local leaders do not like to work hard, take risks by leading from the front and assert or they are not being taken seriously in official circles. Subsequently, the central BJP leadership has to always come to the rescue of local unit of the party and use its own political influence on voters to win the elections.

Author is senior editor, Greater Kashmir