Prof Farooq Fayaz
In the multi-party democratic system of India, the element of coalition governance is a recent phenomenon. Though in a pre or post colonial political setting there existed divergent political ideologies represented by couple of political establishments but till the declaration of emergency in India by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, it was Indian National Congress that uninterruptedly ruled India. In the post emergency period, with the convergence of diametrically opposite political shades, Janta Party came into existence with an objective to provide viable alternative against Indian National Congress. Notwithstanding the fate of this national conglomerate, the new organisation offered an opportunity to the leaders and cadres of different political organisations to experience the taste of power and authority for the first time. Secondly, in the backdrop of this convergence, the element of secularity started getting centrality even in the organisations known for communal divide. One such example is of Bhartiya Janta Party, the erstwhile Jan Sangh. It was in the backdrop of Janta Party’s disintegration, that JanSangh was renamed as Bhartiya Janta Party.( who had remained out of the ambit of Government formation.) Though the experience of political conglomeration failed miserably, yet, the endeavour played significant role in recasting India’s future political and democratic landscape. On the debris of Janta Party’s debacle, there emerged a number of political entities with an addition of “Janta” either as prefix or suffix to the rest of the expressions. The present Bhartiya Janta Party also owes its rebirth to that process of recasting or redefining. True, in the past, B.J.P, exclusively on its sheer communal agenda, succeeded in coming to power in the Country, but, that agenda did not work well; with the result the party had to remain in opposition for a decade. The overwhelming majority with which the party came to power in the parliamentary elections in 2014, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, surprised almost every shade of Indian intelligentsia, that how come a man who till now was rooted in regional political clime, managed to transport so swiftly to the centrality of the India’s political fulcrum . One thing is very clear, that, in a total deviation to its conventional communal ideology, this time, B.J.P fought Parliamentary elections on the sheer slogan of development and effective governance. The nucleus of the Indian changing mind stands clearly reflected that people aspired for a change; a change for good, a change to break political monotony and to replace stagnant administrative culture by a vibrant, dynamic and result oriented political structure. The same quest got mirrored in the recently held Assembly elections, most particularly, in Jammu region where the electorate overwhelmingly voted for B.J.P. As against this, people in the valley voted with dual objective in sight; good governance and safeguarding constitutional and political speciality of the state. To ensure the smooth passage of the two given objectives, the electorate in Kashmir valley perceived, that, as against other political parties, Peoples Democratic Party possesses a strong commitment, cemented political will and visionary leadership to accomplish these two distinct objectives. It is with this objective in sight, that, people expressed their trust in favour of the party referred to in the recent Assembly elections. The people of the state, particularly, in Kashmir had experienced exemplary comfort, ease, good governance, sense of security and development during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Government from 2002 to 2006. Secondly, sensitive to regional ethos, the people in Kashmir preferred P.D.P to National Conference as according to their perception, P.D.P leadership cannot sacrifice the sentiment at the altar of power sharing.
The prospective alliance between P.D.P and B.J.P, evoked strong resentment from National Conference and a few independent legislators on the ground, that, for the first time in the history of the state, a party with strong communal credentials and anti -Kashmir stance is being crowned with the reins of Government and the alliance according to them is a clear violation of people’s mandate. The delay in Government formation offers cemented evidence to the fact, that, assumption of power does not constitute the only objective of the party; what is of significant importance to the party seems as how under present complex political situation, the divergent shades of development and sentiment are skilfully woven in a refined texture to honour the people’s mandate. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the chief patron of Peoples Democratic Party, while addressing the electoral college of the party in Jammu to elect P.D.P’s President, admitted himself, that, despite the differences in vision and priorities, efforts are on, to devise a common minimum programme that would form the basis of Government formation in Jammu & Kashmir. While addressing the members, the Chief Patron unveiled the major conditions for common minimum programme which P.D.P. leadership has put before the B.J.P leadership. The conditions include; Kashmir issue must be resolved, Pakistan must be engaged in negotiations, proper plan for AFSPA repeal, Returning of N.H.P.C run power projects to J&K and Strengthening of L.O.C. trade and travel. The conditions outlined by P.D.P leadership for prospective alliance with B.J.P suggest, that, mere assumption of power does in no way constitute the only goal of the party. What it hints to, with structured focus, is to address all shades which had compounded the complexity of the problem . Doubtlessly, there are certain issues which fall even beyond the purview of the two parties. But if the two sides wish, efforts could be made to prepare a congenial political clime that would facilitate to explore possibilities for reaching at a consensus.
Coming to public, the prospective alliance between the B.J.P. and P.D.P, the National Conference senior leader and party Gen. Secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar termed this move as a an exhibition of worst kind of opportunism. The statement holds little merit on the ground that unlike NC, which in the past made appalling compromises to gain power, P.D.P did not show any hurry, instead, it took enough time in outlining the contours of convergence which is sure to ensure a stable, articulative and people friendly Government. Right from 1977, when National Conference in backdrop of Beigh– Parthasarthy Accord came to power, it exclusively abandoned its political ideology and focussed its attention only to remain in power. Even after rejecting the Autonomy Resolution by B.J.P. led N.D.A Government, National Conference continued to be an ally of the coalition at Centre. During Congress-N.C. coalition, when Omar Abdullah, acted as full time Chief Minister, Congress never agreed to even partly revoke the AFSPA. In the recent Assembly elections, when Congress and National Conference separately fought elections, the leaders of the two parties blamed one another for faults and failures, but, now National Conference feels pleasure in supporting Gh. Nabi Azad as a candidate for Rajya Sabha from the State. History stands witness, that, in near and far past, unmindful of its political philosophy, National Conference had done scores of compromises for immediate political and material gains. Of-course, the new would be combination is going to turn historic in a sense that for the first time in the history of Jammu & Kashmir, B.J.P is going to be a part of the State Government that too with the support of a regional party which to a major extent represents the Kashmir electorate. If the combination in future succeeds to take a stock of the genuine problems in a time bound and objective manner, it is sure to herald a new era of mutual trust, regional co-operation and equitable development.
The issues pertaining to human security and dignity need to be prioritised than to be sidelined in the hope of a stable Government. In the past, National Conference did the same thing; it totally forgot its political agenda and made Government formation its only goal. This approach played a significant role in the debacle of the party in the recent times. Sidelining the contentious issues are no solution, instead, sincere efforts should be initiated to respect each other’s concerns and genuine problems. Good governance and regional sentiment need to be clubbed in such a manner that would provide a credible legitimacy to the new political combination. If governance remains the only concern of the two parties, it is sure to damage the image of the parties involved in coming times.
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