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| Vohra,Azad play trump card to silence critics | | | Gareeb Dass
Jammu | June 29
The National Conference,which has 25 members in the Legislative Assembly,seems to have lost a chance for emerging as a kingmaker in the severe political crisis that has gripped Jammu and Kashmir following withdrawal of support to the Azad led Government by the PDP.The Governor,N.N.Vohra and the Chief Minister,Ghulam Nabi Azad have sealed NC's chances for guiding the future of the Congress led Government when the two decided that now onwards the annual Amarnath yatra will be managed by the state Government and the Board will have nothing to do with it.This decision has taken the wind out of the sail of those who were behind the ongoing agitation and violence.Had not this solution been hammered out Mr Azad was supposed to prove his majority by securing support of at least 44 MLAs.The Congress has 30 MLAs,including eight of its associate members who had won the 2002 poll as independent candidates.Thus the congress required the support of 14 MLAs.Even if it succeeds in roping in seven independent members it will fall short of seven members to reach the magical figure of 44.
Informed source said that some six to eight PDP MLAs have assured Azad of their support.Well his expectations may get belied because PDP MLAs cannot dare to support the congress led Government which has not conceded the demand of people for cancelation of the land transfer order.Vice-President of the PDP,Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari says"not a single PDP MLA is going to support Azad."He says that after having lost the majority Azad should have resigned and left it to the Governor to impose the central rule in the state.It is in the light of this development that Ghulam Nabi Azad can bank on the indirect support of the National Conference which has 25 MLAs.If Azad was told by the Congress high command to continue he could demonstrate confidence of the Assembly by motivating the National Conference MLAs to stay away from the Assembly on the day of trial of strength on the floor of the House.In fact the National Conference leadership had been waiting for an opporunity to go close to the Congress so as to sideline its main political foe,the PDP.Right from the day Ghulam Nabi Azad took over as the Chief Minister the NC leadership awaited an opportunity which could leave the Congress with no other option but to bank on the support of the National Conference.The situation then and now is totally different.The row over the diversion of 800 Kanals of forest land to the Shrine Board has made it very difficult for the valley centric political parties to lend support to the Congress.The level of anger and violence in Kashmir over the issue during the last five days has already forced not only the National Conference but other Kashmir centric parties to develop cold feet.They fear the voters may trounce them in the poll battle once they supported Azad this time.
Ghulam Nabi Azad is a shrewd politician and with the support of the central Government and the Congress high command he knows the art of playing cards.He kept the trump card close to his chest and opened it at the right time because he too cannot afford to enrage the voters in the Kashmir valley where the party expects to improve its 2002 poll win figures.In the previous election it had won five seats in the valley and 15 in the Jammu region.As such the Jammu voter is an important factor for the Congress in the ensuing election.Latest reports said that Mr Azad in consultation with the Governor,N,N,Vohra,and Ms Sonia Gandhi and the Union Home Minister succeeding in evolving a via media which could keep people in both the regions happy and satisfied.When the Government has taken control of the yatra it clearly means that the land has not be kept at the disposal of the Shrine Board.Will this encourage the PDP to rejoin the Governmen?A senior PDP leader says "if we are approached we will discuss it and decide accordingly." |
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