With just few days left for Lok Sabha polls to end political parties are raising the pitch to hold Assembly elections in the state without any further delay. At present Jammu and Kashmir is under President’s rule and it would expire on 20 May, 2019. If the Election Commission of India (ECI) decides to postpone the Assembly polls till November it would mean that President’s rule would be extended.
According to the media reports the Election Commission ofIndia is all set to take the final call over holding Assembly elections in thestate next week. The Governor’s administration is understood to have conveyedit to the ECI that polls should be deferred till November due to variousreasons. The tourism season in Kashmir is limited to few months and holdingAssembly elections in the midst of this season would hit the people associatedwith the tourism sector.
The suggestion put forth by the Governor’s administrationhas not gone well with the political parties in Kashmir, especially theNational Conference. The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and NCvice-president Omar Abdullah has reacted sharply to the idea of holdingAssembly polls in the state in November. “Most political parties in J&Kwere ready to take on the separatists & militants in Assembly elections byignoring their threats of boycott of polls & violence. Unfortunately Modiji & his handpicked team in J&K have decided to once again surrender tothese forces,” Omar wrote on twitter.
It seems that Omar is desperate to regain the power. For himtourism season and ongoing academic session don’t matter. He just wants to seehimself in the Civil Secretariat. The National Conference is creating a notionthat people are waiting to vote for the party. He seems unaware about theground realities. Someone needs to tell Omar that people in Jammu and Kashmirare looking for a change and NC won’t find it easy to challenge the youngfaces. The political landscape of Kashmir has changed. Voters cannot be luredby just raising slogans and showing dreams. People of Jammu and Kashmir want agovernment which would mitigate their sufferings and help them come out of themess. Omar should stop dreaming and focus on what’s happening around them. He(Omar) has simply written off everyone and he believes that he is the”undisputed leader” and next Chief Minister of the state.
Reasons being cited by the Governor’s administration todefer the polls till November look valid. At present the focus of the Centralgovernment is to restore normalcy in the Valley. The Government of India (GoI)has made it clear that it’s the people who matter and not the politicians.
Kashmiri leaders need to come out of their closets to feelthe pulse of a common man. They need to think beyond grabbing power and rulingthe state. Changed policy of New Delhi towards Kashmiri leaders is a clearindication that they can no more dictate terms to Centre and if they want to bein power they would have to fall in the line. The lines have been drawn.Mainstream politicians have to choose their sides. They can’t preach separatismon one hand and contest elections on the other.
At present the ball is in the court of the ElectionCommission of India. The ECI has to take a final call over the possible datesabout when Assembly elections can be held in the state. Till the ECI decidesabout the final poll dates, the politicians should concentrate on reaching outto the people. They have to work vey hard to ensure that people return topolling booths and repose their faith in democracy. Politicians committingmistakes in the past has pushed the people away from them. This time around the Assembly elections inJammu and Kashmir are not only about NC and PDP many young faces have joinedthe politics and they are waiting for a chance to shine on the political arenaof the Valley. The forthcoming Assembly elections are very important for thepeople as well as the politicians as everyone is fed up of violence and wantsto live a peaceful life. The leaders have to cut across their party lines andtake a leap towards pulling their people out of the turmoil. Throwing tantrums won’thelp anyone.
(The writer is former Journalist and member of JK youth Alliance)
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