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| Elections 2008: Issues | | | Ritesh Srivastav
Ever since the Election Commission announced its decision to hold Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir, divisive politics of the region has come to fore once again. With the election fever shooting up with every passing day, the race for the hot seat has gained momentum. Major political parties have blown the election bugle and started their election campaigns with a bang, amidst hope to get the authority to rule the state and its people post elections. However, this time also, the political fraternity of the state seems to be heavily divided between issues of national integration and separatism to gather votes. At a time when the Election Commission is committed to hold elections as per schedule, the politicians in Jammu & Kashmir appear to be debating regional and religious issues and the legitimacy of elections and whether it would be a panacea for all that ails the state.
Like previous elections, major issues which are expected to dominate the electoral process this year are the same - the self rule or autonomy for J&K, Amarnath row, separatism, militancy, presence of security forces and other issues including development, unemployment, education, electricity and water.
Though crucial, the issues pertaining to development have always taken a back seat when ever the elections were held in J&K. This election will also see a tug-of-war among the politicians, vying with each other, to wrest control of the state while pretending to be the true representatives of the Awam.
The electoral process aims to end the political uncertainty that has prevailed in the state since the Assembly was dissolved in July and the state was put under the President’s Rule after the Congress-led government headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad collapsed, following withdrawal of support by its coalition partner, the PDP over the Amarnath land transfer row. |
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