Srinagar, Apr 3: Though not unexpected, the Lok Sabha election contest between National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is bound to create further suspense and interest in poll arena.
Despite being bitter political rivals since past, both the parties are also important constituents of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.)
Given their long political rivalry and the stakes involved in polls, the two parties were very much clear in their minds about they fighting against each other like the past. NC was never in a mood to leave any parliamentary seat for PDP in Kashmir. PDP on its part was unwilling to support NC without contesting.
However, efforts were being made by some quarters in I.N.D.I.A bloc to persuade NC to leave the Anantnag – Rajouri – Poonch seat for PDP but the efforts could not succeed. NC refused to oblige on the grounds that why should it leave a seat which it had won in 2019 polls.
Both the parties were making preparations for long to contest all the three constituencies in Kashmir.
But they were not making it public as they did not want to be seen going against their own claims of unity and working for the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. At some point of time they had to make their intentions clear.
Since the election process has been set into motion, NC and PDP had no option but to declare publicly that they would contest solo for the three seats. However, they wanted to blame each other for reaching to such a point and so the blame game has begun.
This blame game will continue and get further momentum during the campaigning. For getting maximum votes, the two parties would target each other same way as they used in previous polls.
Time will tell who among the two parties will finally emerge victorious or may be some other party or parties can give surprise due to massive division of votes between NC and PDP. Political analysts believe that with electoral arena having undergone major changes after delimitation exercise and other factors, NC and PDP have added to each other’s problems by not contesting together.
Division of votes can give an advantage to BJP in Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch seat if the party fields its candidate there. Entry of Ghulam Nabi Azad will lead to further division of votes. Even the effects will be also visible in Srinagar constituency, in which vast area of south Kashmir has been merged during delimitation exercise. To some extent the NC- PDP clash can have fall out in Baramulla constituency as well.
Due to the NC-PDP electoral clash, a strange situation has emerged for Congress. Since NC has announced its support to Congress for Jammu and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies, will Congress support NC for the three Kashmir seats. Or will the party remain neutral or too contest the three seats in Kashmir?
CPI(M), which has its influence in Kulgam district has announced not to take part in polls but consolidate votes against the BJP. But will the party support NC or the PDP?
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti today said that her party will announce the candidates in coming days. NC Vice President Omar Abdullah said that a decision about their candidates for Srinagar and Baramulla constituencies will be taken by the party’s parliamentary board and announced accordingly.
He announced that party President Dr Farooq Abdullah will not contest due to health reasons. That means Omar will himself contest now as he had already stated that either he or his father will contest.
Today the NC vice President made a fervent appeal to the people in Srinagar to take part in polls actively so that they elect their respective for parliament and that their voice is heard.