: Too much of politicking could recoil on a political party. And in Jammu and Kashmir, the erstwhile coalition partners — the Congress and PDP — have learnt this in the run-up to the Assembly polls, so much so that neither of them is willing to face the electorate anytime soon.
Reason: The public outburst that followed their manoeuvres against each other over the issue of Amarnath land has divided the state on regional and religious lines. Now, when the land row has been settled, the wedge created between the two regions — Jammu and the Kashmir valley — is far from being bridged. While pro-azadi protests continue in Valley, many in Jammu have started talking of trifurcation of the state.
As a result, when the Election Commission convened a meeting of all mainstream parties from Jammu and Kashmir on Monday (September 8) to ascertain their views over holding of the Assembly polls, all except the BJP dithered over the issue. While the BJP outrightly favoured early polls in the state, the PDP opposed it saying the situation was not congenial in the Valley. Though the Congress left it to the Election Commission to decide, it is learnt to be in favour of deferring the polls by a few months. On the other hand, the Jammu Kashmir National Panthers Party wanted delimitation of Assembly constituencies to take place first, while the NC wanted the Centre and state Government to first address the concerns of people in the Valley.
Their reluctance in facing early polls is not without any basis. For the past two months, none of them has been able to hold any public meeting as mobs ruled the streets raising pro-Amarnath or azadi slogans in Jammu and the Valley, respectively. Trying to cash in on the turmoil, the Congress and PDP too became part of the agitation trying to woo their votebanks.
Arun Sharma
