ISHTIYAQ AHMAD
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Mar 8: As the new political outfit in Kashmir was launched on Sunday, it is tipped to be different from other political parties in many ways. The first and significant shift from the existing political setup could be its doing away with the ages old ‘dynastic politics’.
Political experts are of the opinion that the J&K’s politics have been dominated by two parties, rather, just two families, the Abdullahs and the Muftis. “A pro-people government was never formed in Jammu and Kashmir because of the family politics. Despite several elections, including those when participation was overwhelming, its dividends never reached the grassroots level,” one of the political experts in Jammu and Kashmir told Early Times. He said that people have seen that in Jammu and Kashmir, democracy has always been hampered and thwarted by these families.
Another political expert said that the few with premium surnames had hijacked the political process in Jammu and Kashmir. “They had ensured democracy is stifled, corrupted and power is vested in the hands of very few, he maintained.
Sources said that with the launch of new party this anti-people culture will be dismantled.
“The coming together of these political leaders and the resolve of younger leaders to take on these political families has unnerved the latter,” they maintained.
Sources however said that it will be interesting to see whether the new political formation be able to salvage democracy from the hands of these families.
“It is not easy but these new figures have shown the will to stand their ground,” said one of the political experts.
He said that the mandate of mainstream politicians is limited to governance and administration they need to understand and respect their role and responsibility.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times had attacked the dynastic politics in Jammu and Kashmir and had termed it as a termite that eats away the foundations of democracy.
Meanwhile, sources told Early Times that the Altaf Bukhari led party has decided that party president shall have limited tenure of two terms only in his lifetime, and cannot run for the post for third term.
Sources believed that this would be a major shift from the unwritten rule of ‘dynastic’ politics. Altaf Bukhari was unanimously nominated as ‘interim president’ of the party for three years after which elections will be held for the top post.
Sources said that the party is expected to bring radical changes in the political scenario and is likely to attract many important and influential leaders from various other parties in coming days. |
