J.H.Reshi’s opinion on upcoming elections in J&K
Although local political leaders and parties, are gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections, expecting these could be held sometime soon.
But the Government of India does not seem to be serious or in a hurry at all for conducting these assembly elections in the Union Territory of J&K.
It is made clear by the Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha in a statement made by him recently where he stated, that it will take us at least one more year to completely eliminate the militancy from Kashmir as a whole.
But in any case, it seems the next assembly elections in the union territory of J&K can only be expected to happen just ahead of the 2024 Parliamentary elections not earlier.
So as to provide BJP a rallying point across the county in the next general elections. By holding these elections on their own terms and installing a government of their own choice.
In 2019, when Articles 370 and 35 A of the Constitution of India came to be scraped to deprive the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of its special status enjoyed by it from generation together.
Almost all local as well as national political parties active in Kashmir except BJP decided to join hands and forge an alliance by the name of the Gupkar Alliance headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
Bringing together a different cross-section of people and ideologies, diverse political groups, and leaders under one banner with a resolve to fight the BJP’s anti-Kashmiri policies and struggle for the restoration of the special status back to the state of Jammu and Kashmir for generations together.
But like any other conflict zone anywhere in the world, nothing can be taken for granted or at its face value.
Kashmir cannot be an exception to this general rule. Everything from parties to their leaders is being directly or indirectly maneuvered and manipulated from behind.
The Gupkar Alliance therefore from started developing cracks even before it was launched.
Dr. Farooq Addullah and Omar Abdullah were not on the same page over this from the very beginning.
Therefore Omar Abdullah distanced himself from it from day one and always maintained that he has nothing to do with it.
His onetime close political aide and associate has already formally joined BJP and is working on bringing BJP and NC close to each other for a possible coalition and government formation after the elections are held.
Sajjad Lone who initially was at the forefront of PAGD decided to leave it and revive his own party and so did many others.
Meanwhile, many other parties have been launched as well to counter this alliance.
Now Dr. Farooq Abdullah too has fallen in line. And as such NC has formally decided to contest these elections on all 90 seats of its.
Leavening Mehbooba Mufti of PDP to fend for herself and pursue her hawkish politics and policies the way she may wish or like.
Aimed all this if Ghulam Nabi Azad has decided to quit Congress for the good and formed a party of his own.
It is by no means a surprise because rumors to this effect were doing rounds for too long now.
As the BJP was showering one after the other favor on him and encouraging him to defy the Congress leadership.
In the past, it has been far too kind to him and has helped him out of his way to reach this position and status.
There can be no worst example of betrayal and treachery than this one. He owes his rise to politics and power to his mentor Sanjay Gandhi and thereafter every member of his family continued to patronize him at the cost of others.
The game plan is simple and obvious that is to create as many factions and parties as possible so that in the end.
It is the BJP that can benefit from it and have it its the way. Basically rendering tacit support to the BJP not only in these elections in the J&K as and when held but thereafter also in the next general election scheduled to be held in 2024.
Like Owaisi and Mayawati did during the crucial UP assembly elections held early this year.
Insight on Kashmir 