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| Congress destined to lose popular support in Jammu | | Delhi With Omar | | Rustam
Jammu, Jan 5: Now that Omar Abdullah has been allowed to rule the state after he completed three years in office, it is clear that the Congress high command, besides the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, is with him and not with the local Congress leadership. It is obviously a moment for Omar Abdullah to celebrate his victory over those in the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir who had worked quite hard during the last few days to carry conviction with the party high command and see in the driver's seat some Congress leader. The general view of the bulk of the local Congress leadership was that Omar Abdullah would be replaced on or before January 4. Their view was based on what the Congress high command had done in November 2005 to replace Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of the PDP with Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress as Chief Minister. Most of the Congress leaders were quite confident that they would be able to make the Congress high command revive the 2002 power-sharing formula.
The continuation of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister of the state after January 4 means many things. One, the Congress would suffer more taunts, particularly in Jammu province, where an overwhelming majority of Congress workers at the grass-roots level were not happy with the Chief Minister as well as with the Congress ministers. They had on occasions more than one accused the Chief Minister of not considering their aspirations, as also the aspirations of the people of Jammu province. Besides, they had umpteen times accused the Congress ministers of letting down them as well as the people of Jammu province by not asserting in the cabinet meetings or by allowing the Chief Minister to take controversial decisions and then implement them ruthlessly. The attitude of most of the Kashmir-based Congress leaders and workers towards the Chief Minister and the NC was also identical. PHE Minister TAj Mhi-ud-Din perhaps was the only Congress leader who was totally committed to Omar Abdullah. He is from Kashmir and he is from Jammu as well, as he has his immovable property located across the state.
Two, the decision of the Congress high command to allow Omar Abdullah to continue to lead the government beyond January 4 would further weaken the Congress party in Jammu province and Kashmir. Because the high command's decision has left none in any doubt that it has no regard whatever for the sentiment of the local Congress leadership and workers. The dejected and frustrated Congress leaders just cannot induce others to join the Congress and strengthen it in the state. The possibility is that the people may turn towards the PDP, which has been taking on the Chief Minister from time to time and organizing political activities, particularly in Kashmir province, to expose the Omar Abdullah-led government and identify itself with the people and their various causes, including their grievances against the government.
Three, the decision of the Congress high command to overlook the local sentiment and put all the eggs in the Omar Abdullah's basket would embolden the Chief Minister to rake up controversial issues with a view to arousing popular passions and than playing with them to create difficulties for the country in the Kashmir Valley. Omar Abdullah is as he is. His views on the Army, on the AFSPA, on India, on the Indian political system, on Pakistan, on Indo-Pak relations and on the centre-state relations are too well known. His views are controversial. He would certainly exploit his official position and further pander to his constituency in the Kashmir Valley. It is hardly necessary to reflect on the NC constituency in Kashmir, as everyone is aware of it as well as its nature. Omar Abdullah knows that his main political rival is the PDP. Hence, it is obvious that he would indulge more frequently in competitive communalism and soft-secessionism, instead of focusing his attention on the issues of governance.
Four, the most happiest and relieved persons in would be those Cabinet Ministers who were against the idea of rotational chief minister. They were opposed to it because they knew the change of guard would mean a great setback to them. The insiders reveal that at least some ministers in the congress did their best to neutralize the influence of those who had been seeking the ouster of Omar Abdullah. As a matter of fact, the insiders reveal that Omar Abdullah won the day because he enjoyed their fullest possible support of these ministers, besides a couple of other ministers, including Taj Mhi-ud-Din.
One can refer to here may other things to highlight the meaning of the continuation of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister beyond January 4, but it is not possible considering the space limit. In any case, the moral of the story is that the Congress will have to put in all to retain control over its constituency in the state in general and Jammu province in particular. It is a difficult situation for the state Congress leadership whose opinion has been repudiated by the high command to keep Omar Abdullah on its right side. |
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