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| Grand strategy to decimate PDP in valley through pro separatist competitive politics | | But Indian nationalism to be ultimate loser | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Mar 18
News Analysis
If 2002 assembly elections in J&K were a sort of referendum over the performance of six year rule of National Conference, between 1996 and 2002, with all the political parties targeting the ruling National Conference, though separately, ultimately censuring it, 2008 elections are going to be a sort of referendum on the six year performance of two major ruling coalition partners, Congress and the PDP. But it is the PDP which is going to be the subject of target by various political formulations, jointly as well as separately.
A grand strategy is being worked out by the leaders of various formulations to corner the PDP, particularly in Kashmir valley. In this grand design to decimate the PDP, the tacit support of Congress is being also manipulated. Ironically one of the founder leaders of the PDP and the mascot of PDP rebels, Ghulam Hassan Mir is emerging as the nucleus of anti PDP forces in Kashmir. The endorsement by the CPIM leader M Y Tarigami as well as Awami National Conference patron G M Shah of the imminence of third front before the assembly elections in the state is indication enough of a grand strategy to make the PDP irrelevant in Kashmir politics. National Conference in particular is damn happy over the developments regarding emerges of third front, which will ultimately help the NC to capture most of the seats in the valley, improving on its 2002 tally, as well as presenting better prospects for it in Jammu region.
The PDF, another probable partner in the third front is deadly opposed to the PDP and inclined favourably towards the Congress. The PDP which could win 16 seats from the Kashmir valley in the 2002 assembly elections, which it had fought for the first time after its formation only a little earlier, is sought to be beaten by the detractors of the party, precisely father—daughter duo Muftis, with their own stick. To beat Muftis' and PDP's appeal to the separatists, by pursuing the agenda to appease them, the proposed third front is all set to leave behind PDP in this competitive politics. Ghulam Hassan Mir, who had led a banner of revolt against the alleged promotion of dynastic order in the PDP and the strong hold of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti on the party, with all other leaders getting marginalized, had also been opposing the terrorists friendly and pro secessionists agenda of Muftis and even subscribed to the concept of state's accession with India being final and had openly expressed himself opposed to the PDP demand for demilitarization and self-rule, has after leaving the party, in search for emerging a strong force in Kashmir valley, changed his stance and has been showing overtones which please the separatists in Kashmir. His recent utterances that the sacrifices made by a lakh Kashmiris during last 20 years would not go waste and pleading for finding solution of Kashmir issue through dialogue and advocating that the Centre should pave way for negotiations with the Hurriyat Conference and other secessionists, is a clever move to beat the Muftis with their own stick, by stealing their agenda of projecting themselves as pro separatists.
The emerging third front, though is going to be the joining hands of motley crowd having divergent perceptions, yet is all likely to be pro separatist. The former J&K Chief Minister G M Shah, the estranged brother-in-law of Farooq Abdullah and his ANC too have been pursuing pro separatists agenda and even going to the extent of refuting the finality of J&K's accession with India. So is the CPIM, standing on fence over this issue. The PDF of Hakim Mohammad Yaseen is no exception in this regard. These formulations will be all out to mobilize the tacit support of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference for their dispensation in the coming elections.
While these tactical moves on the part of emerging third front to win over the separatists and appeal to the separatist mindset of Kashmiris may lead to the isolation of PDP, yet it will be a matter of great concern for the nationalists in the state as well as in the country and so for the Central government. The competitive politics to be pursued by the third front, the PDP and the National Conference, is in the ultimate analysis going to weaken the nationalist forces in the state and weaken its emotional integration with the rest of the county. |
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