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| Baig's re-induction not an unmixed victory of PDP | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Dec 10
In the hour of jubilation in the PDP circles over induction of their representative, Muzaffar Hussain Baig as Cabinet Minister in Azad led coalition government, poised to be tipped as Deputy Chief Minister, the party faces despondency over the government of India categorically rejecting its political demand for demilitarization of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukerjee has turned down the proposal put forth by the Pak Foreign Minister in the SAARAC conference, for both the countries pulling out their troops from J&K.
The induction of Muzaffar Baig in the Azad cabinet and even his nominations as Deputy Chief Minister is a poor consolation to the PDP, in the face of its major defeat, even giving no face saving to the party, with regard to its clamour for demilitarization, which the PDP wanted to use as a main plank in the forthcoming elections. Even it is a matter of dispute whether the re-induction of Baig in the cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister is a victory for Muftis or for Azad. Muzaffar Baig was recalled from the cabinet by the PDP and was not removed by Azad. He had earned the displeasure of father and daughter duo leadership of the PDP for his being close to the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and disregarding the wishes of the PDP high command, precisely Mufti Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, who is the President of the party, while Azad was favourably inclined towards Baig and had allotted him the portfolios of Finance, Planning and Law against the wishes of the Muftis. Although, Baig who had fallen out with Muftis, had soon mended his fences with the party patron and president, but he never did distance himself either from Azad or from the Congress party as a whole. Under the circumstances, it is a matter of opinion whether re-induction of Baig into the Azad cabinet is the victory of Muftis or of Azad. Azad, on his part was always keen to retain Baig in his cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister and even after Baig was recalled from the coalition ministry by the PDP leadership, Azad was keen to re-induct him.
The re-induction of Muzaffar Baig in Azad cabinet and more so as Deputy Chief Minister has, instead of solving the problems of PDP, has further complicated the same. Besides another senior party leader and one of its founder members, Ghulam Hassan Mir, once again falling out with the party leadership, entertaining the grouse of his claim being ignored, how does the new man Friday of Muftis, Tariq Hamid Qarra takes the elevation of Muzaffar Hussain Baig to number two position in the cabinet, is to be seen. However, it will be the rejection of party's main plank of demilitarization, which is going to put the party into a piquant situation. After the government of India ruling out pulling out of troops from J&K, in the SAARAC conference and the army chief reiterating the same, continuing in the Congress led coalition government will only compromise PDP's stated position. In case the party goes on harping the tune of demilitarization or troops pullout from J&K, the same will led to fresh strain and stress between the two major coalition partners. In that case the induction of Muzaffar Baig in the cabinet will prove futile. On the other hand if the PDP, realizing the reality of the situation, keeps silent or even goes soft on its demand for demilitarization, the party loses the face as well as is deprived of its main plank in the next assembly elections. |
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