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.

Though the Amarnath land issue was a flashpoint in their already strained relations, both the PDP and Congress had been trying to politically outwit each other for long especially on issues like planning development works in the state in January instead of March every year; creation of eight new districts; demand to withdraw troops from the Valley; and the much hyped forest scam involving PDP ministers. So, when the Amarnath land issue (involving even PDP ministers who were party to the allotment of forest land to the Shrine Board) came up, no one listened to any of these parties and stood up against the Government.

Even the BJP is not too comfortable with facing the electorate soon. But it takes solace from the fact that they had been in the forefront of the pro-Amarnath agitation and, as such, the situation is in their favour in Jammu. So, even as the Election Commission reiterates its resolve to conduct the state polls on time to meet the January 9 deadline for the formation of the new House, the parties could do well with a little bit more time on their hand.