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| PDP eyeing Bakaya for new script | | With KP segments in mind, party luring him with cabinet berth | |
Jammu, May 31
Close to the heels of his exit from the plush office of the World Bank funded Economic Reconstruction Agency, the one of the most sober bureaucrats Vijay Bakaya has before him a political avenue calling. Courtesy: the Peoples Democratic Party.
Reliable sources told Early Times that the Peoples Democratic Party is eyeing at Vijay Bakaya to garner a constituency among the Kashmiri Pandits. “PDP leaders have been in touch with him but Bakaya is yet to give his mind”, said a source close to the former Chief Secretary. Bakaya, who retired as Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Reconstruction Agency last weekend, however, could not be reached for comments.
Sources said that PDP had been considering Bakaya for a top position in party as well as government since long, but Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad made a pre-emptive strike May last year appointing him as his Advisor on Economic Affairs and CEO of the ERA after his retirement as Chief Secretary.
It may be recalled that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had been visibly benevolent upon Bakaya that he was made Chief Secretary after advancing the term of them incumbent Dr SS Bloeria by three months. Bloeria had three months to retire when Mufti made the former as his advisor and promoted Bakaya (then Financial Commissioner Planning and Development) to the office of Chief Secretary.
“If Bakaya agrees to join the PDP, he can be inducted as Minister from our quota in the forthcoming expansion”, said a senior PDP Minister requesting anonymity. PDP has one berth of cabinet minister vacant in its slot following the exit of Muzaffar Hussain Baig, September last year.
Why PDP is so serious about getting Bakaya into party fold and going to the extent of offering him ministerial berth when senior people within the party are waiting in wings? An answer to this question lies in the electoral arithmetic and a calculated move crucial to the next assembly elections.
The Kashmiri Pandit community living in Jammu and other parts of country does not have broader political affiliations. Any party which is able to take the majority of them on its side can tilt the balance of four to five assembly seats in its favour. KP’s have the option of casting votes by postal ballots. Thus if some 1500 to 2000 votes are managed in any constituency where votes of Kashmiri Pandits constitute a significant chunk –this can brighten the winning prospects of party which has this community along.
It may be mentioned here that Raman Mattoo who contested election from Habba Kadal constituency in central Srinagar city won by getting just few hundreds votes. He managed some votes from camps in Jammu and Delhi and did not have the need to campaign in Srinagar. Mattoo won hands down.
Continuing with the past precedence, if voters in urban centres of the Valley yet again boycott elections on calls of Hurriyat Conference and other separatists or militants, the support of Kashmiri Pandits can change the destiny of any political parties which is able to win them over. In case of boycott, the only voters are the Kashmiri Pandits and their just few hundred votes can change the political equations.
In a shrewd and calculated move, the Mufti’s are actively pursuing to get Bakaya in the party fold and make him a Minister to him the ample power and influence to deal with the community members. Apart from being a steadfast bureaucrat, Bakaya is widely respected among the KP community. Even though the Kashmiri Pandits stand divided into many groups, but Bakaya has a formidable say in every section.
Earlier, PDP had also tried with Prof Amitabh Mattoo –the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu. However, Mattoo politely declined the offer as his academic interests hold a promising career ahead for him.
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