Ending the suspense over its participation in the upcoming District Development Council elections, the Popular Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) said on Saturday that it would contest the polls in a united way “so as not to allow the democratic space to be invaded. by divisive forces “.
Alliance spokesman Sajad Lone wrote on his Twitter account: “PAGD has unanimously decided to contest the DDC elections in a united way. Despite the abrupt timing of the DDC elections, it is important that the sacred space of democracy not be allowed to be invaded or haunted by divisive forces. “
For the alliance to participate in grassroots democracy after the repeal of Article 370 was not an easy decision to make considering the public spirit in the valley.
Critics believe that participation in any electoral exercise by the Valley’s main parties would be interpreted as legitimacy for the Center’s measure of August 5, 2019 to eliminate the special status of the old state.
They say it also contradicts the position taken by former heads of state ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, who vowed not to stand in any election unless Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional position is restored.
Forum members had boycotted the local body elections in 2018 and 2019 in anticipation of plans by the BJP-led central government to remove the state’s special status. The BJP, which was trying to find a foothold in Kashmir, took advantage of its absence and won several seats, either unopposed or with minimal voter turnout.
The alliance has belied the expectations of many in Jammu and Kashmir who expected them to take a tougher stance on the elections until Article 370 was reinstated. Some even hoped that they would follow in the Hurriyat’s footsteps by completely boycotting all elections.
“But that would backfire and hand the ground over to the BJP to capture all the space for electoral politics in Jammu and Kashmir at a time when our supporters are being denied a level playing field,” said a leader who was part of the meeting. Saturday’s PAGD.
One political commentator called the alliance’s decision “playing smart” in the given circumstances and time.
One, participation will not backtrack the BJP and its allies who seek to limit the influence of regional parties. Second, the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the People’s Conference and the Communist Party will be able to rejuvenate their cadres on the ground. His supporters had fallen asleep for the past 14 months and needed a boost to get back into action.
The boycott of the election exercise, they say, would not help the alliance keep pressure on New Delhi, but would push them further to the margins.
“The alliance can emerge stronger if it defeats the BJP and its allies. In a way, it would be an endorsement for the restoration of the special status it represents, ”said one of them.
“A smarter move would have been to deploy proxies and support them covertly or through a whisper campaign, but then the alliance is not Hurriyat. They must come out openly and campaign for what they represent, and that is restoring Article 370, ”he added.
Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing its first DDC polls since November 28. In October, the central government amended the Panchayati Raj Act of Jammu and Kashmir, 1989, to establish DDC in its 20 districts. Each district will be divided into 14 territorial districts and the elections will cover 280 districts.
Congress has also chosen to participate in the BDC polls to thwart the BJP’s desire for a free race.
The involvement is likely to deal a major blow to the BJP’s plans to make inroads into the Kashmir belts of the newly carved Union Territory. Muslims make up nearly 70 percent of the population and many believe that the repeal of Article 370 is aimed at changing the Muslim majority character of the region.
“Our participation does not in any way prove that we have diluted our position in favor of the restoration of the special status of the state. We don’t want to give the BJP a free run and help their propaganda that their victory is an endorsement of what they did on August 5 last year, “said a source.
Meanwhile, Jammu’s top politician, Professor Bhim Singh, became the latest victim of the Center’s decision to repeal Article 370 and its consequences on Saturday after his party expelled him for meeting with leaders of the alliance of seven parties based in the Valley fighting for the restoration of the state’s special status.
Valley leaders are camping in Jammu for the past two days to gain support for the restoration of special status.
Both North Carolina President Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are holding meetings to hear voices in support of Article 370. Many leaders in Jammu and a sizable section have opposed the government’s decision to remove the controversial article that cuts safeguards for jobs and land for the locals.
Founder of the Panther Party, Professor Singh was one of the local leaders and activists who met with visiting leaders. The party dominates in parts of Jammu.
Hours after the meeting, the party chairman and Singh’s nephew, Harsh Dev Singh, said they had removed him from the position of party patron.
The Panthers Party has fiercely opposed recent land laws that allowed outsiders to buy land in the Union Territory, but is equally opposed to any alliances with Valley-based parties. The party plays a Jammu card and seeks more rights for the region.
“He had gone there (to meet with the leaders of the alliance) on his own, in an individual capacity. The party has nothing to do with it. You have aged and often do not know what your actions or statements are (they are meant to be). Maybe he has no control over them, “Dev told reporters, adding that the party will have no problems with” anti-national “forces, an apparent reference to the leaders of the new alliance.
PDP spokesman Najmu Saqib said delegations comprising Sikh groups, leaders of the Gaddi and Sippi (Dogras), leaders of the Kashmiri Pandits, Gujjar and Bakerwal, as well as officials from the Programmed Caste and the CBO met with leaders from The alliance.
“During the discussions, they assured that they would fight for the identity and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The delegations said that they would fight with PAGD for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, ”he said.
Earlier, alliance leaders got a massive response in Kargil to their call to restore Article 370.
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