R. B Suri
No doubt the recently concluded elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly are the free and fairest elections conducted by the Chief Election Commissioner of India so far after 1950. In these elections, people of the Jammu and Kashmir voted in favour of the political parties / individuals as per their choice without any fear.
Leaving aside Tangdili apart, they have given the mandate keeping in view the good governance and development which they want and of course a need of the day. Region wise polarisation has been made. In Valley the people at large given the all out support to the People Democratic Party (PDP) who once in collaboration with the Indian National Congress governed the State of Jammu and Kashmir for three years. As per the experience goes PDP led Government in the State was stigma less, scam free, corruption less. No Commission of Enquiry was constituted after the fall of the PDP led Govt. Painless to describe here that it ended with the ugly scenes , Intra province fights, anti establishment agitations and ultimately it took very dangerous turn in shape of “Amarnath Andolan” which ended after two and half months of agitation for nothing . In this agitation 14 people were killed.In Jammu region people have supported the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) which at the moment is actually ruling the country under the banner of NDA. In Leh , Nobra and Kargil Constituencies people at large supported the candidates of the Indian National Congress who won three Assembly Constituency seats namely, Nobra , Leh and Kargil and the fourth one i.e. Zanskar Assembly Constituency had gone in favour of an independent candidate Syed Mohd. Baqir Rizvi who defeated his nearest rival Ghulam Raza. From Nobra Assembly Constituency, Deldan Namgali won the election as Indian National Congress candidate defeating his nearest rival Tsetan Namgyal of National Conference.From Leh Assembly Constituency, Nowang Ringzin as a Indian National Congress candidate won the elections defeating his nearest rival Chering Dorjay of BJP and from Kargil Assembly Constituency, Asgar Ali Karblai of Indian National Congress won the elections defeating his nearest rival Annayat Ali of National Conference.
While giving their mandate in Assembly elections, they thought proper to support the Indian National Congress for raising thei local issues in the state Assembly and for their logical conclusions. Since Independence, Leh and Kargil areas and its subjects were at the helm of affairs of Indian National Congress.
These days prominent leaders of PDP, BJP, INC, JKNC are very much busy in making permutations and various combinations as per their choice in the process of government formation in the State, but nothing is coming out. PDP and BJP should come closer as much as they can as per their suitability and local consumption in larger interests of the country with the figure 53 members of J and K Legislative Assembly and form the Government in J and K. It will be a strong and stable government in the State of Jammu and Kashmir indeed.
Prior to the Assembly elections in the State (Nov – Dec, 2014) Elections to the 16th Lok Sabha were held and in these elections three MP seats each bagged by BJP and PDP. Anantnag, Baramulla and Srinagar seats gone into the pocket of PDP whereas the rest three-Udhampur, Jammu and Ladhakh into the pocket of BJP. As PDP candidates, Mehbooba Mufti won the Anantnag seat by securing 2,00,429 votes defeating her nearest rival of National Conference candidate Syed Abid Ahmed Shah.
Muzzafar Hussain Baig won the Baramulla seat by securing 1,75,277 votes defeating his nearest rival of National Conference candidate Sharif ud Din Shariq and Tariq Hamid Karra won the Srinagar seat by securing 1,57,923 votes defeating his nearest rival of National Conference Patron Dr. Farooq Abdullah. As BJP candidates, Dr. Jatinder Singh (MOS- PMO) won the Udhampur/ Doda/Kathua seat by securing 487369 votes defeating his nearest arrival of Indian National Congress and ex- Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jugal Kumar Sharma won the Jammu/ Poonch seat by securing 2,57,280 votes defeating his nearest rival of Indian National Congress Madan Lal Sharma and it is very pertinent to mention here that Ladakh seat was bagged by Thupstan Chhewang of BJP by securing 31,111 votes defeating his nearest rival Independent candidate Ghulam Raza.
In Lok Sabha Elections 2014, by electing Thupstan Chhewang as their Member of Parliament who contested his election on BJP ticket, Ladhakhis have strengthened the hands of Narendra Modi in forming the NDA led Government at the Centre and also shown their patriotism towards the nation. In Lok Sabha elections they have shown their wisdom thereby leaving aside the petty State issues but they preferred strong and progressive government at national level.
Earlier in 15th Lok Sabha Elections 2009 , Ladhakhis elected Haji Ghulam Hassan Khan as their MP who contested the election as an independent candidate on denial of mandate from the National Conference.After the election he returned back to the NC fold again.
In Jammu region people have supported the Bhartiya Janta Party(BJP) which at the moment is actually ruling the country under the banner of NDA. These days prominent leaders of PDP, BJP, INC, JKNC are very much busy in making permutations and various combinations as per their choice in the process of Government formation in the State, but nothing is coming out.
Given below is the party wise position:-
People’s Democratic Party – 28
Bhartiya Janta Party -25
J and K National Conference -12
Indian National Congress -15
J&K People’s Conference -02
CPM -01
Independents -04
—– Total:- 87
Of course, this is a fractured mandate in which no party enjoys the position to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir State. But in larger interests the country they should rise to the occasion and make their concerted and serious efforts in Government formation in the State.
Given below are the options open for formation of The Government in J and K:-
1- PDP and BJP = 53 MLAs
2- BJP, NC PC and 3 Independents = 45 MLAs
3- PDP, NC and INC = 55 MLAs
4- PDP,NC,CPM,PDF
and 2 Independents =47 MLAs
(To be continued)
