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| Non-performance disenchants people with electoral process | | | Bashir Assad
Srinagar, July 22: The process of elections and campaigning has different dimensions in Kashmir. Candidates contesting elections function under maximum security. The routine fanfare accompanying such events is missing , even the people who come out to cast their vote generally remain away from the campaigning. Though initially from 1996 onwards, the enthusiasm was missing among the voters for the fear of gun, however, improvement in security scenario has not made much difference. Why? Even though elections rallies do often take place in rural areas, however, the participation in these rallies is still below the average but for different reasons.
The fact is that the ruling class has failed the people in Kashmir and the disenchantment (other than the separatist tendencies) with the electoral process is evident. It is an established fact that the 2002 general assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir restored the credibility of the process to some extent but the failure of the ruling class to provide good governance brought the situation back to square one.
This can be said with certain degree of authenticity that people are no more interested in boycott politics and there are not many takers to this kind of politics but it is also true that they are equally disenchanted with the electoral process only because the people who are voted to power do not perform.
But nevertheless elections in Kashmir ensure the continuity of a political engagement with democratic institutions which is essential for a flawed democracy to grow.
Considering the situation, establishing regular elections and forming an elected government is essentially required but the political parties participating in the process should at least bear in mind that the scope and space of electoral democracy in Kashmir is squeezing only because of their non-performance and corrupt practices and none other including the separatist camp can be blamed for it.
With a political process that not only has a shaky foundation but also lacks direction , it's no surprise that not many join politics.
Although there are a handful of upright practicing politics, their emergence can easily be traced back to dynastic influences.
It remains to be seen as to whether the new entrants foray into politics can make any difference.
In a situation where it is difficult to find good people joining politics it is a little too much to expect them to rise above narrow political considerations.
Under this kind of situation a simple question which comes to mind is, "should not the separatists or votaries of their ideology take the mainstream head on in elections, they would not be betraying the cause but serving it. Then there is again a question will the ruling National Conference allow anyone to contest?. |
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