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Congress keen to be in driver's seat?
10/28/2011 12:31:03 AM
The chorus on reintroduction of rotational chief ministership in Jammu Kashmir is back again.It has been there during the last six months.And during the 2010 summer the demand was for change of guard when the valley was plagued by civilian strife in which 120 people were killed in police firing.And as far as the leaders of the state unit of the Congress are concerned they have been heard raising the demand for keeping the Chief Minister's chair rotational.They argue that under the coalition system it is part of the coalition dharma to give a chance to each constituent to head the Government.If the coalition Government is headed by Omar Abdullah since January 2009 and the Congress leaders in the state want its leader to head the Government after Omar completed three years in office.Well the demand for change in the guard is not a constitutional compulsion nor is it mandatory because there has been no signed agreement between the NC and the Congress on the issue pertaining to rotational chief ministership.
If there is an unwritten agreement between the Congress high command and the NC in January 2009 it pertains to the commitment given by the Congress high command to the NC leadership that Omar will be allowed to complete the six-year term.Even if the agreement is unwritten the Congress is supposed to honour it.But it may not be possible in the context of fluctuating political situation in the state.If the Congress leaders do not want to honour the commitment they cannot be faulted because at times change becomes necessary for bringing about improvement in the political, administrative and security environment. However,NC leaders too have their opinion on the issue. They explain that it cannot be always part of coalition dharma to allow each constituent to head the Government. Had it been so India would have had several Prime Ministers since 2004 when there has been the Congress led UPA Government in the centre.
But the leaders of the state unit of the Congress do not seem to be convinced by this argument. They say that the Congress, that heads the UPA Government, has the biggest number of MPs and hence deserves to be in the driver's seat. The Congress has 205 members in the Lok Sabha against that its coalition partners have 17 to 22 members in the Lok Sabha and hence the congress is the only party that has the right to head the coalition Government in the centre.As far as the state of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned the Congress strength in the Assembly is six less than the NC and hence its demand for reintroduction of the rotational chief ministership is genuine.And whenever some development takes place in the state allowing a chance to people and political leaders to raise an accusing finger against Omar Abdullah congress is quick to exploit it to its advantage. The death of one NC activist Shah in mysterious circumstances in police custody has given the Congress a handle to resort to hammering of NC.Yes,there is no doubt that Omar could have proved highly successful had he taken the leaders of the state unit of the Congress with him while formulating important policies. He has not done so.This has left scope for change in the guard. If it is done the Congress may be able to retain its hold on people. If the change is delayed it may, political pundits argue, cause further erosion in the Congress.
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