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| Congress pitch for rotational Chief Minister | | (In box---- Instead of hankering for the post of Chief Minister to the party nominee for next three years, fighting for fulfilment of Jammu’s regional aspirations will pay the Congress more) | | Yash Bhasin | 10/22/2011 11:39:18 PM |
| In November 2008 J&K State assembly elections giving a split verdict, with no party getting simple majority, a deal was struck between the NC, which had emerged as the single largest party and the Congress, which came second, to form a coalition Govt. unlike after the results of State assembly elections in 2002, which too had returned hung assembly, and when Congress- PDP
Coalition Govt. was formed, on the term of rotational Chief Minister from the two major coalitional partners for three years each, in 2008 a clear cut decision was taken by the Central leadership of the Congress that NC nominee will head the coalition Govt. for full six years. The Congress however insisted and prevailed upon that instead of Dr Farooq Abhdulla, who was projected as Chief Minister in the election campaign by the NC, his young son Omar Abdullah to head the Govt, for full six years.
Congress, NC coalition was clinched in the backdrop of the ally in the previous Congress-PDP coalition Govt, PDP ditching the Congress after running its full three years term and withdrawing its support to the Ghulam Nabi Azad headed coalition Govt, about six months before it could run its full term, over Amarnath Yatra land row.
It were the young leaders in the Congress at the Centre, Rahul Gandhi, Jyotishwar Scindia and Sachin Pilot, who had successfully manoeuvred for young Omar to head the NC-Congress Govt. instead of his father Farooq Abdullah, alloying Omar Abdullah full six year term.
Even at the height of Omar Abdulla’s unpopularity in 2010 summer unrest in Kashmir, consecutively for the third year as well as his controversial statements on accession and other goof ups and failings, the Central leadership of the Congress continued standing behind him and fully defending him, ruling out any change of guards in the J&K Govt.
However, for passed sometime several J&K Congress leaders and even some at the national level have been repeatedly raking up the issue of rotational Chief Minister, wiz Congress nominee should head the State Govt. for second term of three years. The senior most Congress leader in J&K, the former Deputy Chief Minister in Mufti led PDP-Congress coalition Govt. between 2002 and 2005, Mangat Ram Sharma, who has crossed 80, was the first to raise the issue of rotational Chief Minister, demanding that after completion of three years Omar Abdullah be replaced by Congress leader to head the Govt.
At the Central level Makhan Lal Fotedar, who visited Kashmir this summer suggested Congress to get its share to head the coalition Govt. in J&K. Lambasting Omar Abdullah over his numerous failings, immaturity and incompetence to govern, which, he alleged was compounding the alianation of Kashmiris from the national mainstream, Fotedar one time a close confident of Nehru-Gandhi family, and a member of Indira Gandhi;s kitchen cabinet and who is known for his closeness with PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayed, even suggested that if Mufti was allowed to head the coalition Govt. in the State after 2005 and if instead of Congress joining hands with NC after 2008 assembly elections, it had preferred Mufti Mohmmad Sayeds PDP, the things would have not deteriorated to the present sorry State in J&K. Still another Congress leader who advocated Congress to get the chance to head the Govt. in the State for next three years is the Congress Rajya Sabha Member and a long time head of J&K State, Dr Karan Singh. He invoked a strong feeling among the party workers in J&K of being ignored by the J&K Govt, arguing that if Congress is denied its due to head the State Govt, it will be weakened in the State.
With completion of three years of coalition Govt. drawing near more and more and louder the voices are being raised by the party leaders and the workers in J&K for Congress to get its remaining three years to head the Govt. while not laying much stress on Omar Abdullaha’s failure on various fields and growing alienation of the people in all the three regions of the State, over Chief Minister’s indiscreet statements and adventurous misdemaneuvers, demoralisation among the party rank and file over their being meted out raw deal by the Govt. is being cited to plead for Congress leader to head the Govt. The dismal record of Omar led Govt. is being under played, while apprehended set back to the Congress base in its strong holds, as a result of party workers feeling frustrated on account of their ineffectiveness in the present set up is being over emphasised.
While till recently it were the supporters of Pradesh Congress Committee President, Saif-din Soz were vocal in the demand for rotational Chief Minister, indirectly demanding Mr Soz to head the coalition Govt. But lately even the staunch supporters of Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have also joined to sing the chorous. Bar President Jammu, B S Salathia, known to be a close confident and supporter of Azad is the latest to raise the issue of rotational Chief Minister. The Supporters of Azad have introduced a new angle to the issue by demanding that a Congress leader from Jammu region should head the Govt. for the next three years obviously they are putting weight behind the Former J&K Chief minister and presently Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to be tipped as Chief Minister of coalition Govt. in J&K once again. Thus in the factional wrangle of the party between Soz and Azad supporters, regional aspirations are being used as a ploy.
However, this plea does not cut much ice with the people at large in Jammu. The Jammu people rue that two and a half years of Azad headed coalition Govt. in the State did hardly address Jammu’s regional neglect and raw deal. In the 2002 State assembly elections Congress had won 20 seats, 15 from Jammu region and 5 from Kashmir, including Ladakh. The Congress had then fought elections on the plank of giving a Chief Minister to the State, from Jammu region for the first time and Azad was projected as party choice for the job. But later the Jammu people entertain the feeling of being cheated. The implementation of Wazir Commission report, a long pending demand of Jammu, was effected in a fractured manner. While Justice Janki Nath Wazir Commission, set up in 80’s, had recommended creation of three more districts in Jammu region and only one more in Kashmir valley, Azad Govt. created four more districts each in both the divisions, thus in no way addressing the Jammu’s concern. Again, in respect of other main demand of Jammu to give the region more seats in the State assembly, in keeping with its proportional area, population, topography, distances and accessibility, Azad had mooted to increase assembly seats by 25% of the present strength in both the divisions. This could further go to the disadvantage of Jammu region in share of power and its say in law making for the State as a whole. But this commitment of Azad too was only a bluff, since the State legislature had in the past put a moratorium against any fresh delimitation of assembly constituencies in the State before 2025. However, before any step in this direction could be taken Azad Govt. fell, as a result of PDP pulling rugs from under its feet.
Congress will be well advised and it will also pay the party more electorally and win it more support in Jammu, if the party identifies itself more with the regional aspirations of Jammu, rather than hankering for the post of Chief Minister. Presently, it should raise a pitch for 73rd and 74th amendment to the Panchayati Raj in the State. The party leaders should take strong stands on issues which concern and agitate Jammu people. These issue include granting permanent State resident ship right to refugees from west Pakistan settled in Jammu since 1947, solving the problems of displaced persons from border and LOC areas during 1965, 1971 and later in border skirmishes, as well as relief to those migrated from militancy affected areas in Jammu region at par with that to Kashmiri migrants.
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