MIAN TUFAIL
IN a surprising turn of events, the political landscape in the Valley is witnessing a heated exchange between two prominent regional parties – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC). Accusations are flying all over as both the parties point fingers at each other, alleging secret attempts to forge alliances with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling party at the national level.
The tension between the PDP and NC – that have historically been rivals in the region’s complex political arena – has reached a new high, as leaders from both the parties accuse each other on occasions to set the future electoral tone in the Valley.
Last week, during his address to the party workers in Langate, Vice President of National Conference Omar Abdullah, in a scathing attack on PDP, said, “Had the PDP accepted unconditional support of the NC following the 2014 Assembly elections, the situation would have been entirely different. The decision of Article 370 abrogation in 2019 could have been averted had PDP accepted our support to keep the BJP away from the power corridors of the erstwhile state. Unfortunately, the PDP-BJP tie-up cost the entire region its special constitutional position, pushing people to the wall”.
Pertinently, both the PDP and the NC are the main constituents of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to safeguard and fight for the restoration of Article 370. The fissures in the alliance are clearly visible before the announcement of the Parliamentary polls next year. Both these parties accuse each other blatantly and allege friendship with the BJP.
During the party foundation day this year, the PDP youth leader Waheed Parra criticised the National Conference for demanding the holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Parra said, “One party demands statehood, another, the post of chief minister and the National Conference, the largest party of the region, seeks only elections”. Parra went to the extent of saying that the NC had rigged the elections in 1987 due to which Kashmir witnessed a tremendous change in the political landscape and the seeds of separatism were sown then which led to the bloodbath in the Valley.
As the Supreme Court is set to serve the order on Article 370 soon after reserving the judgement, it will be interesting to see how the PAGD rolls out in the near future.
On the other hand, the NC spokesperson vehemently denies the allegations of PDP and, in a counterattack, accuses the PDP of being the one in talks with the BJP. He asserts, “The PDP is attempting to create a smokescreen to divert attention from its own secret dealings with the BJP. Our party has always stood for the principles of region’s unique identity, and we categorically deny any such collaboration”.
The fight is not about the restoration of Article 370 but a pure interest of reaching quickly to the chair of the chief minister. The central government has paralysed these mainstream parties to the extent that they demand only elections and wait to grab power. The claims of fighting for the restoration of Article 370 subside in a jiffy and all are unequivocally demanding statehood and elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Elections are the right of people and denying them for long will create a further wedge between people and democratic institutions.
The accusations of the PDP and NC are time-centric. The fact is that both the parties are hand in glove with the BJP. Each of them tries hard to work closer with the BJP. Both parties have, in the past, collaborated with the BJP to run governments in the state and the Centre. Their bonhomie with BJP is not hidden anymore and the race to reach out to the Union BJP leaders is on among them.
While Omar Abdullah blames the PDP of disempowerment, abrogation, and of deception with the mandate of 2014, the PDP’s rebuke is that NC was trying to grab power through the backdoor in 2014. All these statements could actually imply that the parties are probably competing for gaining proximity with the BJP.
The change of narratives in Kashmir is common. From the slogans of autonomy by the NC to the self rule of the PDP and of Azaadi by the Hurriyat to just the restoration of statehood – all these slogans sell like hot cakes with the intention of future alliances. These developments in Kashmir are significant with the Lok Sabha elections ahead and the wave has started to turn and may take interesting shapes in the coming months.
Some political analysts suggest that these allegations could have far-reaching consequences, potentially reshaping the political landscape and alliances in the region. Well, as the political drama unfolds, the situation remains fluid, and the coming days are expected to bring further developments in this evolving political saga.
