news details |
|
|
| PAGD crumbling under its own weight | | | Peoples Democratic Party president and former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, remaining non-committal about Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) contesting the forthcoming assembly elections in J&K jointly is an indication that Mehbooba has realized that her party joining hands with National Conference and other parties has not helped her cause.
Soon after the revival of political activities in the Valley last year, Kashmir centric parties came together and formed the PAGD. These parties had claimed that the amalgam has been formed to fight for a bigger cause. But the PAGD contesting the recently held District Development Council (DDC) elections jointly proved it beyond doubt that these parties had come together only for the sake of power.
After the results of the DDC polls were declared the National Conference emerged as the PAGD “BOSS” as it won 68 DDC constituencies while the other parties of the conglomerate couldn’t win many seats. The PDP which was considered to be a strong contender just won 26 seats. Now, the NC is indecisive about seeking PDP’s support to form the DDC boards as Mehbooba Mufti’s party has been caught in controversies due to few of its leaders being questioned in connection with terror funding case.
Kashmir centric parties are maintaining distance from the PDP as no one wants to end up in trouble. After PDP’s youth president Waheed Para was arrested by National Investigating Agency in connection with a terror funding case, the PAGD didn’t issue a joint statement and asked the PDP to handle such matters at its own level.
With each passing day it’s becoming clear that the PAGD is emerging as a branch of National Conference and other constituents are just following what the NC leadership is saying.
Mehbooba stands at crossroads as her party stands decimated and the parties that constitute the PAGD are trying to stay away from her to save themselves for being labeled as anti-nationals.
It appears that the PAGD may crack before the assembly elections are held in J&K and Kashmir centric parties will contest these polls on their own. The PAGD’s bigger cause seems to be no cause. The much hyped experiment of Kashmir centric parties seemed to have failed. These political formations will have to get reorganized to remain relevant and active in coming days. These parties can no longer sell dreams and illusions as times have changed and people cannot be taken for a ride anymore. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
