| Wake up call for NC, buoyant Cong too needs to revisit its future strategies | | LAHDC, Kargil poll 'surprise' | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Aug 29: The outcome of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil's elections has a loud and clear political message which has wider ramifications and needs to be viewed, analyzed and looked into watchfully by all the parties including National Conference (NC), Congress, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
If the result of LAHDC Kargil is any indication then the ruling NC is certainly batting on a sticky wicket while on the other hand its alliance partner in the State Government-Congress, despite contesting the polls on its own has gained considerable ground in the Kargil region.
The political pundits admit that though the polls like LAHDC, Kargil are fought on the local issues, the final outcome of the elections cannot be overlooked or dismissed merely on the basis that it was held in a limited constituency.
"The results of LAHDC, Kargil is an eye opener for NC as it got a drubbing in its traditional stronghold while its alliance partner in the State Government-Congress, though, fought separately gained substantially," the political observers opined. "With the results are out in open, the NC, Congress, PDP and BJP should try to read between the lines particularly the Congress which needs to revisit its political strategy in the state…. It will be wise for the Congress to have political rethinking on having any pre- poll alliance with NC, if it intends to have such an arrangement, for the forthcoming Assembly or parliamentary elections…PDP and BJP also need to have self introspection for their poor show," they added.
The coalition partners -NC and Congress were locked into a neck to neck fight having won 12 and 11 seats respectively while three seats were won by the independents out of the total 26 seats for which elections were held.
NC's tally of 12 is six less than its 18 seats in the 2008 polls while its alliance partner Congress which has won 8 seats in the previous elections, this time managed to win 11 seats which in a way has given a fair chance to the grand old party of the country to grab the post of Chairman of LAHDC, Kargil.
Going by the results of LAHDC Kargil, it seems that the political ground under NC's feet is fast shifting towards Congress in the Kargil region which could pave way for a new political scenario considering the fact that both the alliance partners had contested the elections against each other and are now pitted for capturing power in the Council.
While the common Congress worker was upbeat for the success party tasted in Kargil, the Pradesh Congress Committee president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz exuded confidence that the party would head the newly formed Council; however, he categorically stated that the party will not use any unfair means to grab the power. "Congress is hopeful to get hold of the chairmanship of LAHDC, Kargil…. The independent candidates are showing inclination towards our party but I must clear that the party will not indulge in any sort of maneuvering," Soz told Early Times adding that party is fast emerging as a vibrant political force in all the three regions of the state. |
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