Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 7: Former finance minister, Altaf Bukhari, is all set to launch his ‘Apni Party’ on Sunday.
This is the first party to be launched in Kashmir post August 5, when Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories. Bukhari’s party comprises mostly of the PDP rebels and a few disgruntled leaders of other parties.
An analyst while talking to Early Times said, “Apni Party appearing on the political arena in the Valley will put pressure on the other Kashmir centric parties to put their act together. Most parties in Kashmir have lost their address post August 5, 2019.”
He said, “Soon after the death of PDP patron and former J&K chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Altaf Bukhari, had appeared as a viable alternative for the PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who delayed the process of joining hands with the BJP to form the government in J&K after her father’s death.”
The analyst said, “Had Mehbooba delayed her decision for a few more days at that point of time, Bukhari might have got a chance to become J&K chief minister.”
Soon after Mehbooba took over the reins of the erstwhile State in 2016, she dropped Bukhari and few others, who were planning to join him, from her cabinet. Bukhari was inducted into the cabinet later.
Another chance which Bukhari got to become the chief minister was in 2018, when PDP, NC and Congress joined hands and projected him as the chief ministerial candidate. But on both the occasions Bukhari couldn’t reach the top office.
An observer said, “This time also it seems that Bukhari is aiming high. But the situation is entirely different this time around. Delimitation has already been announced. The Assembly seats in Jammu region are all set to increase from 37 to 44 and the discrimination which this region has been facing for the past seven decades will end.”
He said, “The changed circumstances will provide golden opportunity to Jammu based parties to form the government and stake their claim on chief minister’s office.”
Another analyst said, “Kashmir centric parties can only share power if they get a chance. The leaders from Kashmir will have to act as second fiddles. They won’t be in a position to dictate terms and establish their supremacy.”
He said, “Kashmir centric parties that used to thrive by raising hollow slogans and selling dreams will have to do something concrete to survive.” |
