S. Narinder Singh
The Modi wave has brought turbulence in the Indian politics with mighty of the mightiest finding shuddering like a dry leave. Narendra Modi’s emergence was the result of total failure of UPA II, which got plagued with scams and scandals. Rampant corruption and alarming inflation made the people restive and growing disenchantment generated atmosphere for change in the political set up and hence the nation woke up to an era, rightly accredited to Gujarat strong man. No doubt fortune favoured Modi but Modi wave favoured many.
Such was the impact of the wave that Congress and National Conference failed to open their account in Jammu and Kashmir during the parliamentary elections. They drew blank. Even the stalwart National Conference patriarch Dr. Farooq Abdullah lost his elections from strong NC bastion of Srinagar. PDP in the Kashmir Valley and BJP from the Jammu Region emerged victorious.
The impact of Modi wave was not confined to parliamentary elections but also extended to the Assembly Elections. The wave touched its heights in full swing to the extent that many stalwarts felt compelled to change their loyalties. Once a formidable Congress minister and Member Parliament, Choudhary Lal Singh deserted his party and NC MLC and former Minister, Ajatshatru Singh embraced the BJP. The Congress jittery could be gauged by the fact that tallest of its tall leaders in Jammu Pt Mangat Ram Sharma, former Deputy Chief Minister joined PDP along with his son at the fag-end of his political odyssey.
In Kashmir, Abdullahs confidant and senior National Conference leader, Dr. Mehboob Beig, son of the legendary Mirza Afzal Beig, a close associate and companion of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, let the scene in the midst of grand political battle and supported the PDP. A former Minister, a parliamentarian and senior NC functionary Dr Beg refused the mandate from Anantnag and made his choice in favour of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s PDP. The bureaucrat turned politicians, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and Mr B R Kundal, both MLCs of National Conference and Congress respectively waivered and snapped their ties with the parties that gave them the political space. Rasool, a former Chief Secretary, moved to PDP while Kundal, again a former Chief Secretary, plunged into the elections as an independent. Kundal had remained a minister in the Azad government during its fading moments in 2008. Small timers like Mr. Manmohan Singh Choudhary Congress Counsellor/ Mayor could not restrain himself from joining BJP with the hope to get mandate from Gandhi Nagar constituency. When his hopes were shattered, he joined PDP.
Recent elections in the state have shown that how politicians change their colours. It is a fact that like parliamentary elections Modi wave could not sweep the recent state assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. But it is not far from the truth that Modi wave has achieved a lot by winning 25 seats from Jammu region against the much hyped Mission +44 for the formation of a BJP government for the first time in the state. The party had only 11 seats with a tarnished image in the state. It is only due to the wave that party secured more than double seats in the just concluded elections. Moreover, BJP under the dynamic leadership of Narendra Modi has also entered the Valley by contesting almost all the Assembly seats. No doubt result was zero but at least large number of peoples participated in the elections and party secured 45,000 votes from Kashmir, a fact that may haunt the mainstream and separatists for a long. This has never happened before.
However, it is quiet strange that despite emerging the largest and the second largest parties, PDP and BJP could not form a Government even after the lapse of more than two weeks. No doubt this election has resulted in polarization between Jammu and Kashmir, but to ensure the integration and mutual brotherhood between the peoples of two regions, a government should have been formed to avert the Governor’s rule. The PDP and BJP could have provided a stable government. If they are allergic to each other, some other formulations could also have been explored, like BJP, NC plus others. The people of the state have voted for good governance and development. NC had also offered unconditional support to PDP. But the people have voted against the previous Government so the most viable solution is PDP and BJP joining together.
Mufti Syeed is a seasoned politician, credited with having delivered good governance. Sagacity demands Mufti to make a first and big initiative towards forming a stable government with BJP by respecting the mandate of the people. Both the parties should keep aside the contentious issues like abrogation of Article 370 and AFSPA.
The politicians should feel ashamed for not honouring people verdict on time. Such delays will have serious ramifications that can lead to alienation and bifurcation of the state. These elections have clearly shown that people have rejected the separatist forces. Question arises that why the single largest party PDP was not in position to form the Government in alliance with other political parties. If the support of the NC and Congress was not acceptable for PDP, then why it failed in joining hands with the BJP, the second largest party, to form a Government? The earlier UPA Government at the centre was not result of two parties’ alliance but combination of many parties which ruled the nation for two terms.
Meanwhile, the move of the caretaker Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in not continuing was justified as the state is facing serious problems like 10000 displaced persons on the border and flood sufferers waiting for much needed respite.
With no Government formation in sight, political parties have made a mockery of the peoples’ verdict. They should stop the blame game and rise above politics and provide a stable corruption-free Government.
(The author is former Director information)
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