What compelled rival parties in state to foster alliance

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 21

Two arch-rivals in Kashmir politics — National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party — had come under intense pressure from their MLAs to form government in Jammu and Kashmir as it was feared that continuing political hostility would pave way for the success of “BJP’s machinations” to break these groups.

The decision on the alliance came before the annoucement of the dissolution of the Assembly and sought to utilise the remaining period of more than two years of the six-year term of the Assemblyto unite all for “Kashmir’s special status”. It is also aimed at showing the nation that the two parties can rise above their familial considerations for the sake of larger interests of the state. This is clear the way the two parties are working to choose former Finance Minister Altaf Bukhari as their chief ministerial candidate.

Th alliance was aimed at helping the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party nip in the bud the BJP theory that the two parties were hostage to the dynastic politics.

BJP leaders’ frequent visits to the Valley and their meetings with party leaders and lawmakers of other groups triggered the fears that the BJP would do everything to install its government in the state, particularly with the help of Sajad Gani Lone of the People’s Conference who is on cloud nine after the success in the recently concluded municipal poll.

When National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti saw all this happening, they thought of working out some arrangement to save the distinct identity of J&K. They felt that if the BJP succeeded in demolishing the mainstream in Kashmir, it would add to chaos.

It was with this theme that Altaf Bukhari had mooted the idea of forging of an alliance between the two groups about a couple of months back. Thereafter, the Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference leaders were in regular touch. “NC and PDP leaders have had a series of serious discussions on the issue (of the government formation) over the past few days,” a leader involved in the reconciliation process told The Tribune. He said things would be for the “betterment of the state and its people.”

The issues that brought them together were, to determinedly fight for saving Article 35A of the Constitution that provides special rights and privileges to the hereditary permanent residents of the state, and to check the Centre’s perceived aggressive policy in Kashmir.

These discussions were held in Srinagar and Delhi. The view of the prominent leaders of the two parties and that of Congress was taken to find a way forward in an amicable manner.

Unhappy with the new turn in Jammu and Kashmir politics, the BJP, the erstwhile ally of the Peoples Democratic Party, has already termed it as a “Pakistan-backed move.”

That, it seems is to stir nationalist versus anti-national polarisation and that can have serious repercussions at the national level.