VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: The government formation in Jammu and Kashmir has turned out to be a big riddle. Seventeen days past and still there is no hope in sight to have the one in immediate future.
What is bothering Mehbooba Mufti, the heir apparent, that restrains her to take a small step towards the destination of huge power? Ostensibly there is no hitch. She is an undisputed leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party. The coalition partner BJP too has put its weight behind her. Then where lays the problem?
The answer would have been plain and simple but for the sycophants within her party and the entire BJP lot, which is keen to have a government as early as possible for its vested interest.
Saying that Mehbooba Mufti is in a deep shock due to demise of her illustrious father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is belittling her grief. Such of the party spokespersons who brief media or join television debates are doing a dis-service to her by playing the ‘grief and shock card’, ignoring the fact that those in public life are expected to contain their personal emotions for the larger good of their people. Mehbooba Mufti is not unaware about it and she knows that the bunch of sycophants is portraying her as a weak and emotional leader by whipping up ‘grief and shock’ theory to cover up her real concerns.
Added to the class of sycophants, who swear by suffering themselves from the ‘shock and grief’ of the former Chief Minister’s demise, are none other than the BJP stalwarts, currently camping in Srinagar. Their hilarious pretention of bereavement is quite embarrassing for the PDP.
In the present state of political uncertainty, wild guesses are continuing unabated in media and social media. The name of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s son has also been floated in circulation to keep the grapevine busy. Believe trusted lieutenants of Mehbooba Mufti and they will tell you that she is herself dealing with New Delhi instead of intermediaries like Ram Madhav and Haseeb Drabu. This is to keep the guess-game alive. Unmindful of this, entire she is, in fact, weighing all options and examining the pros and cons of continuing partnership with the BJP.
However, the intervention by former Chief Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah besides concurrent feedback coming from commoners-the civil society, the trade and commerce and even the separatists, seem to be weighing high on the bereaved PDP President. Her PDP is finding itself between devil and the deep sea. Continuation of alliance with BJP amounts to further alienation of its strong support base in the Valley and parts of the Jammu region like Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Bhadarwah. Shockingly low attendance in the funeral procession of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and indifference shown by his hometown has come as a shocker to Mehbooba Mufti. She is still unable to reconcile with the fact that the people for whom Mufti Mohammed Sayeed lived could be so indifferent when the family needed their support and solidarity the most.
Changing political developments and compulsions are also coming in the way of Mehbooba Mufti in forming the government. Significant of these developments is the tirade unleashed by National Conference asking PDP to form the government or else pave the way for mid-term polls. This is a proposition that has been causing much concern to PDP cadre, which is in no position to face the electorate until it convinces support base about its disassociation with BJP-a red rag in Kashmir. Omar Abdullah has questioned how the party that had been mandated to rule the State can push 1.25 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir to central rule because of ‘one party’s inability to lead’.
The situation is tricky for the PDP. On the one hand, the BJP is insisting for cobbling an alliance by making lofty promises (which they failed to fulfill during ten-months of the Mufti’s rule) and on the other, the National Conference is waiting in its wings to pounce on the Mufti’s legacy and to bury it for ever once it realigns with the BJP. Quite frequent tweets by Omar Abdullah on political uncertainty is actually a ploy to ensure that PDP forms government with the BJP which, as part of National Conference strategy, will dismantle it in the Valley where Sangh Parivar is seen as anti-Muslim and anti-Kashmiri. Will Mehbooba walk the trap by ignoring the harsh truth?
