Rustam
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 2: A very interesting political situation is developing in Kashmir. On the one hand, enemies of peace and anti-democratic pro-Pakistan forces want the people of Kashmir to hold themselves aloof from the ongoing election process and on the other hand, a number of smaller political groups and formations - apart from the NC, Congress, PDP and the BJP -- are preparing themselves to take the plunge in their bid to enter the Assembly. Significantly, the law and order authorities have also prepared themselves to face the challenge being posed by extremists like Syed Ali Shah Geelani. They have already arrested many separatists and declared that action would be taken against those who dared to intimidate the Kashmiri electorate and disrupt the election process.
If reports from Kashmir are to be believed then it can be said that the people of Kashmir this time would have multiple choices, notwithstanding the fact that the PDP is the front-runner, the NC and the Congress nowhere on the scene and the BJP, according to none other than NC Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in the reckoning in Amira Kadal, Habba Kadal, Khanyar, Tral, Sopore, Bijbehara and Anantnag constituencies.
The other political groups which have planned to enter the Kashmir's political arena include the Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN), People's Conference (PC), Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), People's United Front (PUF) and the five newly-founded political parties -- the J&K People's United Front (JKPDF), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), People's Republican Party (PRP), J&K Awami Tehreek (JKAT) and the Awami Ittehad Front (AIF).
It would be interesting to see whose poll prospects the candidates of these smaller political groups and formations would damage, but this aspect is not that important. What is important is the fact that many political players this time would mobilize the Kashmiri voters to exercise their right to franchise. More the mobilization more the voter turn-out and the larger participation of Kashmiri voters in the electoral exercise would be in the larger nation interest as it would constitute a big slap on the face of the pro-boycott elements or those who say that the people of Kashmir have no faith in the Indian political system. |
