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Congress's Kashmir policy to harm it in elections Jammu's election scene 2/17/2014 12:15:29 AM Rustam JAMMU, Feb 16: The local Congress leadership in Jammu & Kashmir day in and day out claim that the Congress this time would emerge stronger in all the three regions of the state and will form the next government either on its own strength or in alliance with one or the other Kashmir-based party. It is an exaggerated claim and this is what the current political situation suggests. The Congress is somewhat well placed in Ladakh, but it returns only one member to the Lok Sabha and four to the Assembly. In the cold-desert region, it is pitted against two strong contenders the National Conference and the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is difficult to say that the Congress would win more than two Assembly seats in the region. As for the Lok Sabha seat, nothing can be said at the moment. It could go to the Bharatiya Janata Party considering the fact that the people of the area have always preferred mainstream politics. The Modi effect on the Ladakhi voters can diminish the Congress's electoral chances in the area. Chances for the Congress in Kashmir also appear quite bleak, notwithstanding the fact that the views of the JKPCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz on Pathribal encounter, AFSPA, train service, Machil encounter, unemployment, Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme or "occupation of Government forces in hotels and other buildings" are similar to those of the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party and his claim that his "Constituency is Kashmir". Even on Saturday, he identified him with these two essentially Kashmir parties. The problem of the Congress in Kashmir is that the National Conference has already announced its candidates for the three Lok Sabha seats and it is extremely unlikely that the Congress high command would do anything to make the National Conference review its stand. The other problem is that it is face to face with political formations in the Valley which indulge in politics of competitive communalism and soft secessionism. Not that the Congress's role is any different, but it is a fact that it is not that brazen. Another factor that is working against the Congress across the state is that almost all the Congress ministers are allegedly tainted and involved in serious controversies, including the alleged sex scandals. In Jammu province, the Congress's position is also very precarious. The Congress's Kashmir policy and its stand on Pathribal encounter, AFSPA, train service, Machil encounter, unemployment, Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme or "occupation of Government forces in hotels and other buildings" is not appreciated by an overwhelming majority of the people. The other factor that is going against it is its utter failure to keep its any of the promises it held out in 2008. Yet another factor that is working against the Congress in Jammu province is the Modi fator. There is hardly any Congress leader in the state who is capable of neutralizing this important factor in the Jammu's political situation. Not just this, there are three other political actors in the Jammu province - the National Conference, the People's Democratic Party and the National Panthers Party. In other words, the Congress is pitted against four parties, which have their strong support-base in at least 30 out of 37 Assembly constituencies in Jammu province. And almost all the pre-poll surveys have suggested that the Congress and the National Conference are down and almost out and that the People's Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party are forging head with each passing day. All in all, it can be said that both the Congress and the National Conference are in deep trouble.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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