Now, with the Gujjars strategically avoiding pitting two strong contestants from the community in any constituency except for Darhal, the wedge between them and non-Gujjars has widened. Non-Gujjars see in it a game-plan by the former to get these constituencies reserved for them.

Political analysts attribute this polarisation between Gujjars and non-Gujjars to the distrust between the communities. Gujjars apprehend that if non-Gujjars are elected, they would press for ST status to Pahari-speaking people as well. The latter feel that if Gujjars are elected, they will try to get these constituencies reserved for them as part of their plan to get political reservation for the community.

Amarnath: Issue, non-issue

* It is early days yet. Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua and Jammu districts are going to polls during the 4th, 5th and 7th phases. But the Amarnath issue, which not long ago looked like it would create a communal divide in the region, is nowhere in sight.

All the prominent faces of the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti like Leela Karan Sharma, Brig Suchet Singh, Dr Jatinder Singh or S Narender Singh, have taken a back seat. None of them have so far jumped into the electoral fray. “We are neither endorsing nor opposing the candidature of anybody,” says a prominent leader of the Sangharsh Samiti.

The space temporarily occupied by the Samiti in many parts of the Jammu region till over a month ago has been taken over by political parties. Parties like the People’s Democratic Party, whose leaders dared not to even come out of their houses during the pro-Amarnath agitation, are now openly taking out rallies and holding meetings.