The Peoples Alliance as the Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) dominated the Valley, but the BJP sees the victory of independents in significant numbers as an indication of broader participation and the emergence of new leaders.
Seven dominant Kashmir-centric political parties, including the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party, contested the polls in an alliance under the banner of the PAGD. One of the winners in the Valley, Aijaz Hussain, who beat Balhama in Srinagar, is the national vice president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
Sources said the rejection of party politics in most seats in Srinagar, with independents winning eight of 14, pointed to disenchantment with the older established players who were insisting on the restoration of Article 370.
This also showed that actions against leading politicians for their alleged involvement in various scams, whether related to land or J&K Bank, had an impact on the electorate, the sources added.
PDP’s eroding support in southern Kashmir was a message to Mehbooba Mufti and his hardliner where he said he would not raise the Indian flag until he was allowed to fly the J&K flag as well. Dropouts may have weakened her as well.
Although North Carolina veteran Farooq Abdullah also took a hard line against the system when speaking of China in the Article 370 contest, the party got it right as it has compromised cadres on the ground.
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