The great political market

Elections have taken the whole country under its grip. Kashmir is no different, except as usual elections are conducted in a charged atmosphere of anger, violence and collateral damages. Holding elections under these circumstances is a Herculean task for the authorities. And maintaining fairness and neutrality will be an additional burden.

Administration becomes the soft target of politicians, and the losers are the worst critics. Whatever the role and fate of election machinery during elections it is bound to face challenging times because they are genuinely compensated for such responsibilities. Yes, if all the components of election machinery ensure objectivity and commitment, it will add to their grace. 

   

More than election machinery the politicians and the voters are the important components of the election process. Politicians turn to be pampered lot during elections, and in Kashmir situation, they become more vital. Most of the conventional politicians in Kashmir who otherwise most of the time prefer to remain in political hibernation become more than active during elections.

Turncoats are the best sought after political lot who occupy the center stage during present elections fever. This time around they enjoyed a field day breaking political parties and hitting them left, right and center. Some parties were virtually made barren as most of their star politicians got lured to new equations of political power. Several middle rung government servants and top bureaucrats tasting power also jumped into this election and are trying their luck to enjoy authority till the end.

Earlier in Kashmir, it used to be an unlevelled contest between the blue-blooded privileged political class and rest of scattered politicians. But now for last more than a decade, this situation has changed both for the best and the worst. Now more than three strong mainstream political dispensations are active on the political scene of Kashmir.

It is a do or die situation for all! Interestingly, authorities contrary to the wishes of most of the prominent political parties deferred the state assembly elections and decided to go for parliamentary elections only. This situation may provide the second innings for many politicians who are not going to fair well in the present round.

The election fever has not yet touched its high, but the politicians are out for the kill to ensure their share. National Conference made almost irrelevant in previous elections this time expecting a significant swing in its favour leave no chance and have cobbled together every bit of political material to make good of these elections.

National Conference more than other political entities have planned well particularly for the coming assembly elections. Selection of contenders and shrewd bargaining with other parties show the level of their confidence ( rather over-confidence). Other political forces cannot be brushed aside as nonentity.

They too have their role, and it was proved in the case of Congress and BJP as effective and powerful coalition partners and their role in subsequent government formations during the last several elections.

People’s Democratic Party PDP may have lost a substantial part of its ground, but it is going to have its slice and create trouble for many. The bifurcation of elections provides an opportunity for it to test the political waters and put more vigorous efforts into coming state elections.  

Several new entrants in Kashmir’s mainstream political arena have created ripples in Kashmir politics. Sajjad Ghani lone with his People’s Conference is the most vocal who has made many political analysts to raise their eyebrows, but at the end of the day, he has single-handedly created political hurdles for the traditional polity.

His articulation is more effective than his politics. Only time will tell how his party will prove in these elections, but he too is out for a political kill that will either make him or send him into political oblivion. Out of all other smaller political units, Engineer Rashid with his trademark politics is going to leave his mark in the north and make the situation tough for many favourites.

The much talked  Shah Faisal’s politics earlier created a lot of hype, but at present, he rightly opted out of this contest. He is planning to push his agenda of change on a smaller political canvas of state assembly elections hopefully to be held somewhere in summer.

Anyways, all this analysis prompted by the aggressive behaviour of our power-hungry politicians is subjected to the turnout of a most important component of elections—the voters. Maximum of the politicians in Kashmir pray for low turnout as it makes them easy to dictate their agenda.

Hope everything goes well in these elections and people are not bothered much. Politicians may make their political sail comfortably for the next few years, but it is the people who face the hardships irrespective of the facts who wins or loses!

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