Prof. A N Sadhu
Elections to J & K Assembly are being talked of for some time now. In fact, the political parties have started making their preparations in this regard. The elections, this time, are going to be held, in the changed environment after the developments of August 2019. The election manifesto of each of the political parties will make a reference to August 2019 to suit their political game plan as also to the vision document they will be presenting to the electorate.
In the post-independent political history of the country, it is for the first time that the nation witnessed a state being downgraded to UT. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir must be viewed as an important state located in the strategic northern region of the country. It has an equally rich history. The state was not only consolidated but extended as well by the intelligent and thoughtful Dogra rulers of the state. The outstanding Dogra Army Generals have distinguished themselves in bravery and strategic planning, both. That such a mighty state with so high a strategic position should get downgraded to UT status would compel historians and political analysts to explore the severe compulsions, necessitating such a reorganization of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh did experience some uneasiness with the political and bureaucratic administration and agitated for an autonomous region giving them freedom of managing the region in their own way, as the region did not have its history, culture, and geoeconomic conditions as similar to that of the rest of the state. Giving the region a UT status should, perhaps, invite no adverse observations. Socio-political as also economic rationale would however suggest that the state status of J&K should have remained, even after its bifurcation in two regions. However, the government and its advisors should be better equipped to take such difficult decisions. The common man looks forward to better living conditions and peace and order, in the country, as also in any of its regions. Elections, likely to be held in 2023 will be held in this backdrop.
There are several political parties that will join the fray and impress, in their own way, the electorate to garner maximum support in their favour. The mainstream regional political parties (viz) JKNC, PDP, and Apni Party will not only compete with each other but also with national political parties namely BJP and Congress as well, vigorously. The other political parties though not of long standing and depth of mainstream parties will also be contesting with some innovative and attractive futuristic arrangements, seeking to convince the electorate of being better equipped to meet their aspirations and expectations in the changed environment. The political matrices are likely to transform both in size and strength, to shape a much wider political scenario before the final call. It will be an engaging exercise both for commoners and political parties seeking a fortune in a new paradigm. The recent developments in a major political party may further trivialize the election scenario in J&K. The current status of PAGD, particularly in the light of recent statements of its leaders is also likely to make an impact on the outcome of the elections. Indian electorate is gradually maturing and becoming aware of the importance of its vote. Quite a few things have happened in J&K during the last eight years in general and during the last three years in particular. The verdict of the electorate will be its independent response to the happenings of the last eight years. The psyche, the emotions, and the political parameters will all have an important bearing on the final outcome of the elections. Electorate is aware of the fact that political gains of a contesting party is no guarantee of the gains of the electorate on wholesome basis. Each voter will, therefore, rub his head several times before expressing his choice at the ballot box. Human psychology ultimately tends to behave rationally, and it is at such occasions like elections, when silence also speaks.
It is four long years now that J&K has not had its elected government in power. In a democratic system, it should normally not happen. Even when at times, the exigency may so warrant, the efforts should always be to give people their representative government. The residents of J&K should therefore be feeling excited to exercise their franchise at the earliest in the hope, that a stable government will be established to address their concerns.
J&K has been passing through a worrisome phase for last over thirty-two years. It witnessed unprecedented violence in 1990s resulting into the exodus of an entire community of Kashmiri Pandits leaving behind their homes and hearth who are the aborigines of the valley. What is alarming is that they are even now facing targeted killings threatening the very idea of their return and rehabilitation to their homeland. The violence has receded but not finished; its recurrence is a major cause of concern in Kashmir. Each of the political parties will make a desperate attempt to win the confidence of the electorate in the prevailing social, economic, security and political environment which appears neither smooth nor stable. The electorate will not ignore the post- August 2019 status of the erstwhile state of J&K and its wholesome impact on the people of both the regions. Elections offer an opportunity to the people to record their assessment very silently. The results of J&K elections whenever held may not be surprising but will definitely be revealing. The danger is that in surcharged election campaign the voter may be gripped with more confusion than clarity resulting into a sharply divided verdict. In such an eventuality, establishing a stable and strong government may pose fresh challenges and demand political maturity and farsightedness in working out a stable arrangement.
In the history of mankind, there do arise situations which demand statesmanship to hammer out a lasting arrangement to the advantage of the people. In the war between “Ego” and “Humility” it is the latter that ultimately wins. Electorate will be interested in peace than in politics and let its wisdom prevail. With optimism that the elected government will address its pressing concerns, the common man will be looking forward to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir to its pristine glory.
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