Parliament elections are just a year and a half away. Sources say that at this juncture, BJP is not really botherd about the noises created by the political class of Kashmir. In fact, there are confirmed reports that the exodus of the Pandits from Kashmir valley in 1990 shall be BJP’s political cannon for the 2024 elections. If the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits emerges as the major political issue for the Parliament elections, the top leadership of National Conference and PDP may face the music. Sources say that there is talk among some quarters that NC president and former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah may be dragged through private party litigations to the court of law.
Despite all these challenges and the emerging political situations, hope prevails among the political players in Jammu and Kashmir. They are hoping against hope that Assembly elections may be held by October this year. The argument they offer is that people are facing enormous problems in the absence of a political government. The political players are taking the ground that people are not being heard, and there is no one to listen to them. They allege that Babus have become more and more arrogant, and there is no window available for the public to express their anger and frustration. The political actors are consistently attempting to convince the Centre that however corrupt it may be, popular government is always more effective than bureaucratic rule. It remains to be seen when and how New Delhi ends the speculations and provides some clarity about elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
