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| Electors have been left guessing | | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
JAMMU, Dec 4: Whom to believe? It is a very difficult question for the voters because each political party that is in the poll fray does not only promise moon to the people but swear on acting as a bridge between India and Pakistan. The PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed wants people to give their mandate in favour of the PDP as it would be then able to complete its agenda of promoting peace, political stability and a life of dignity for the people of the state. He does not stop there. He has promised that if voted to power the PDP will be able to carry out demilitarisation and repeal of Armed Forces (special powers) Act. He has promised improved cross-LOC trade and travel besides narrowing down the wedge between India and Pakistan.
Apart from pleading for friendly relations between India and Pakistan the National Conference Chief, Omar Abdullah, says that if voted to power it would create conditions for better Indo-Pak relations. He has pleaded for joint mechanism for tackling the problem of terrorism. Like the PDP the National Conference too has made its commitment for removing unemployment, for ushering in an era of peace and development. However, during their pre-poll campaign in the Kashmir valley the National Conference and the PDP do not play the card of end of regional discriminartion and delimitation of Assembly constituencies. But when the leaders of these two organization are on a campaign spree in the Jammu they do talk of regional discrimination and delimitation. The Congress has proved a bit clever. By promising to get the state constitution amended so as to leave room for setting up regional councils and councils at the district and tehsil levels it wants to give an impression to the people that by doing it the Congress will be able to fulfill its commitment to end regional discrimination. It feels that through these councils one could expect devolution of political and financial powers.
Former Chief Minister,Ghulam Nabi Azad, wants people to compare the development done during the two and a half year Congress led Government to the 60 years of progress. He says his record has been better than the previous regimes. Both National Conference and the PDP leadership questions the congress claim. The BJP has again taken shelter under the agitation against the revocation of the land order. Its leaders say vote for the BJP would be the best tribute to the martyrs of the agitation.
At least people have tested the Governments run by the Congress, the National Conference and the PDP. It is in this connection the Panthers Party has been telling people that all these regimes had failed and hence the voters should vote for the Panthers candidates. Voters stand confused when their ears are rattled by slogans like "vote for Congress is vote for progress."Another slogan "vote for National Conference is vote for political stability."Yet another slogan "Vote for PDP is vote for safe passage for those Kashmiri youths who want to return from Pakistan.""Vote for BJP is vote against terrorism and separatism."
"vote for PDP is vote for better deal for the Jammuites.""vote for BSP is vote for upliftment of the downtrodden." Vote for Jammu Kashmir Democratic Front is vote against family rule."If voters stand confused it is the result of absence of any wave in favour or against any political party. And poll pundits foresee many a surprises when the election results are out. They argue that since the number of candidates in the poll fray in more than 40 constituencies is more than eight in each segment it could affect the chances of election veterans. They also predict neck and neck race in more than 45 out of 87 constituencies because voters no longer have faith in what the contesting candidates and the parties promise. |
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