Saroj Razdan
JAMMU, Aug 30: With an eye on battle-royal-2014, the State PDP leadership ventured a political stroke by declaring Yash Pal Sharma, a prominent non-Muslim party leader from Rajouri-Poonch as their prospective candidate for Lok Sabha elections from Jammu-Poonch seat. The move has unnerved the stalwarts in political corridors, Congress in particular, even though, on the other hand, it is toying with the idea of declaring support to JKNPP supremo, Prof. Bhim Singh, on Udhampur-Doda seat.
Known for political acumen, the all-wise Muftis are well aware that in the murky, muddy environment around, backing up a clean and secular face with nectar-clean credentials would prove a master-stroke of the day. Little wonder the so called Poonch-hermit's political clout-cum-shadow has spread across the western-half of Jammu region, especially along the entire refugee belt between Poonch and Kathua districts in unbelievably short span of five to six months. Pertinent to recall is that over fifteen thousand people had come over at Sunderbani in order to felicitate Yash Pal, on his election as MLC, a few months ago.
The political observers opine that Sharma has the potential and prowess to double the PDP MLAs' tally in twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in next-year Assembly polls is his assigned domain instead. But with the sympathy bells audible from Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts as well, the Muftis have pegged the gauntlet on Lok Sabha front also.
As next-year Lok Sabha Polls would be fought on first-hand issues of corruption, scams and scandals, a mole would look a mountain to the angriest-ever voter's eye today. Even the Congress party ideologues confess their Udhampur MP is sitting on a much stickier wicket now a days. Besides, 40 to 50 % non-Muslim population in erstwhile Doda district is feeling sort of ignored and alienated in the Congress scheme of prioritization. The PDP 'hawks' are as such adding up gains and losses to see if 'Operation-Poonch' can be enacted in the northern half as well. The party's speed-post service, despite hobnobbing with the novel idea of supporting Bhim Singh, carries a panel of 2/3 probables from erstwhile Udhampur and Doda districts, the indomitable Jagdev Singh, former MLA from Ramban, from the predominant Rajput Community being a front runner, Needless to recall both the MLC-designate and the ex-MLA Ramban were hounded out of the Congress party a long way back since they couldn't clear the hurdle race meant to get near the 'queens' courtiers.
It is more than clear that it is not out of their sheer habit or routine hobby that both NC and PDP have ordered their party ranks to gird up their loins for the next-year Waterloo-royal. And the two big stake-holders have been burning mid-night-oil to ensure that nothing in left to chance, guess-work or probability. But the State Congress leadership, the Ministers, the MLAs, then MLCs and the field-captains have yet to wake from their vacation-holidays. Congress is complacent with the impression that it will be in coalition with NC or PDP as per PCC President's assessment. But who would catch larks if the sky doesn't fall and the State Congress Legislature Party is reduced to 5- 6 members-mark as in 1996 Assembly polls.
And biggest loser of this political churning is the favourite 'development poster-boy' of Congress, Ghulam Nabi Azad. Both the heavy-weights were sidelined in Congress which ultimately led to their exit from the party, by Azad. More so, PDP is also overnight obsessed with the idea of pushing Azad to the corner. Has the scene therefore been rendered as an act and mouse game between NC and PDP ….? |
