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| Results on an unexpected Line | | | Satwant Singh Rissam | 10/26/2018 11:15:32 PM |
| The results of the municipal elections, which took place in Jammu and Kashmir after 13 years, have set a record of its own kind in the politics of state. For me these elections couldn't live up to the desired intentions as it generated a lot of negativity. Adding to the controversy was the prediction of a foreign-educated person getting appointed as the next mayor of Srinagar. Immediately, after the results were announced it now seems clear that person will be Junaid Mattu, who resigned from National Conference (NC) to contest the elections. I believe that Junaid Mattu himself wasn't sure about his performance as he contested from four wards (of which he won from three). This was a first time experience for me as I saw someone fighting out in such a safe manner for the municipal polls.
Ever since the results are out the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in the celebration mood because the BJP has come out with results on an unexpected line. The BJP has won 100 wards (with no opponent in 76) in the Kashmir region and 212 wards in its stronghold Jammu. The prestigious Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) also went to BJP inspite of the anti-incumbency of the last four years. Now adding to this success, BJP has set a target of 50 seats for the next assembly elections in the state. If I talk of the Congress party then it has lost a big opportunity in these elections. The Congress just performed in the hilly areas of the state and went flat in the plains of Jammu. Especially the performance of the Congress in the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is even poorer than the 2005 municipal election results. The biggest factor that I consider wrecked the Congress in Jammu region is the wrong distribution of tickets to the candidates vis a vis factionalism in the just concluded elections. For me the Congress is yet too far from playing the real role of the opposition.
However, BJP suffered a big defeat at the hands of Congress in the Kargil and Leh municipal bodies. This is a major setback for the BJP because the party has won the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and also has the majority in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). Furthermore, since the celebrations are going on for BJP there are very few in local circles who are highlighting the defeat of Deepak Gupta (the brother of former DyCM Kavinder Gupta) and victory of Rajinder Singh alias Bubby (the brother of BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh) along with his wife Vandina Andotra (as independent candidates from Kathua municipal council). The biggest fact of these election results is that the independent candidates across state have emerged as an entirely new segment of 'politicians'. The independents are the single largest group in Kashmir and in the Jammu region; BJP is followed by independents and then the Congress. More so these independents now shall be switching sides before formation of municipal bodies.
The rise and the emergence of independents is result of the boycott by the NC and the PDP over the article 35A controversy. In addition to it, the allegations against NC and the PDP for fielding proxy candidates have turned true in Jammu region as recently the pictures of leaders of these parties has gone viral on social media while celebrating the success of independent candidates. Otherwise these parties have become successful in saving their cadre (from the militants) who may have gone on back foot in the upcoming parliamentary or assembly elections in the state amid threats. Further, the boycott by both these parties has helped the BJP and the Congress in a major way.
In the end, I would say that with the worst-ever polling percentage in the Kashmir valley these elections must open the eyes of the central government. No wonder there are few takers to this message as these elections are being dubbed as "successful" elections. I don't understand what parameters were employed to come to this conclusion because these elections have once again shown that Kashmiris stand alienated. BJP if wants to serve the nation then they have to understand that they cannot claim to serve Kashmir by the election of displaced persons living at present in Jammu. The situation is deep and let all these records change the situation forever as valley has seen bloom of lotus.
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