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| Non-party Panchayat elections? | | Rotational CM issue returns to haunt NC, Cong begins pulling rug | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, June 15: After patting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's back on peaceful and successful culmination of Panchayat elections across the state, Congress has begun pulling the rug from beneath.
Demand for rotational Chief Minister has started gaining ground. Ask for the reasons and you would come to know about contention of top congress leadership in Jammu and Kashmir that party has done exceedingly well in Panchayat elections and is far-ahead of National Conference (NC). More importantly, the belief in congress camp that NC has lost mandate within 30 months of the formation of coalition government and continuation with the same political set-up might wean away even the support base of congress.
State Congress leadership is convinced that National Conference (NC) has fared poorly while Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made surprise gains. Sources said that despite being held on non-party basis, those elected to Panchayats are actually 'kingmakers' of various political parties. Their political affiliations are an open secret and if any one has doubts, felicitation ceremonies after conclusion of Panchayat elections speak in volumes about how non-party based these elections were.
Referring to NC's historic bastion of erstwhile Doda district, a top congress leader said "NC has been wiped out from all pockets of erstwhile district Doda. Barring district Kishtwar, it has failed to cross double figure in all other constituencies." When told that the elections were helda on non-party basis, he said "what non-sense. They now about their dismal performance and it would be ideal if New Delhi steps for change in after the coalition completes three years."
It is this faith and belief of congress coupled with waywardness in political camp of National Conference (NC) which is easing way for increased clamor over change of guard in Jammu and Kashmir. Numbers are being collected with Congress making public its successes while NC has been maintaining a discreet silence over its performance. PDP is being placed at number 2 by one of the two congress factions.
According to congress leadership, rotational Chief Minister would help in further strengthening the coalition government. Regarding Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's repeated statements that tenure issue was settled on day one, congress leaders in New Delhi confirmed to Early Times that no issue is termed as settled in politics. "There is no word like 'settled' in coalition politics. Scope of change is always there," said a senior congress leader having close proximity with 10-Janpath.
He asserted that congress cannot afford another rebellion in Kashmir. "It is the factionalism which might prevent, something which is otherwise destined to happen. NC has to make way for congress Chief Minister," added the leader. He referred to administrative stagnancy, breakdown of law and order machinery, repeated transfers of officers facing charges of corruption, defunct State Accountability Commission (SAC), limbless SHRC and yet to be made functional State Vigilance Commission (SVC).
Congress leader further said that NC led government has been unable to take effective administrative decisions while adding that workers of congress have been facing innumerable problems in getting their issues redressed. He affirmed that circumstances demand change of guard. "We cannot wait for manna to fall from sky. We have to take painful decisions. Young blood is good but not at the cost of state," added the leader.
On the other side of it, when a senior National Conference leader was asked, his brute reply was "Let them do it first. We would withdraw support within seconds what to talk of minutes and hours. They have to stick to the agreement." He further said "It is the central leadership especially Madam Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who were signatories to the agreement, who have to take care of this non-sense." |
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