Dost Khan
Like father, like daughter! Inheriting political traits of her father, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti seems to be in no mood to continue her party’s tie-up with BJP, which is why the core-group could not arrive at any conclusive decision despite brain-storming session in Srinagar, spreading over five hours. Conscious of the fact that the alliance with BJP had been crafted by her father, Mehbooba Mufti does not want to break it unceremoniously, thus discrediting the political wisdom of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed publicly. No daughter, least Mehbooba Mufti would like to do that. So a graceful exit mode is being worked out to bid adieu to the partnership that the ‘North Pole South Pole’ alliance had for the past over ten months. As a first step, the PDP has acknowledged Mufti’s vision to have been accomplished by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by paying an impromptu visit to his Pakistan counterpart in Lahore on 25th December when the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister was struggling for his life at AIIMS New Delhi.
Kashmir media had not been jostling outside Fairview Residence at Gupkar to learn from the PDP spokesperson what Narendra Modi did vis a vis Indo-Pak relations. If he had nothing to say about the government formation or the future course of relationship with BJP, the spokesperson could spell out PDP’s reaction over the Mufti’s vision about development, peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir. After-all much hype had been generated for the past few days that the senior coalition partner would be reviewing the implementation of Agenda of Alliance of the Mufti led PDP-BJP Government and only then can take a call on further tie-up with the BJP. What came out, directly or indirectly, was that the core group had authorised the Party President to take a final call?
This means nothing for the anxious BJP which finds itself in limbo. This has also dejected the National Conference, which is employing all tactics at the command of President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah to instigate PDP to rush up to form the government with the BJP. The objective is well defined-to destroy PDP and to annihilate it from Kashmir’s political landscape. National Conference is elated over the damage caused to PDP during past ten months. It knows how the people are distancing from the Mufti’s dream political outfit.
Their assessment has been substantiated by shockingly low participation of people in the funeral procession of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Mehbooba Mufti is particularly stunned over the fact that her hometown behaved indifferently by not closing down business establishments as a mark of respect to her legendary father. The attendance was as thin as the crowds assembling in various parts of Srinagar to discuss the health-status of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is reported to be ill.
The hullaballoo raised by Farooq Abdullah, first by sounding that his party’s doors were open to discuss the proposal of BJP to form the government in coalition and, then by taking a U-turn is a ploy to expedite the formation of the PDP-BJP Government. This, together with Omar Abdullah putting Mehbooba Mufti on notice to decide expeditiously on the government formation or else pave the way for seeking fresh mandate from the people is an attempt to influence the PDP President’s decision. But, she is shrewd enough-a daughter, like her father. She is keeping everyone guessing.
Had Mehbooba Mufti any inclination to form government with BJP, she would have done so soon-after the mortal remains of Mufti Sayeed were laid to rest, like Farooq Abdullah did when Sheikh Abdullah passed away in 1982 or Rajiv Gandhi did in the wake of Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984. Mehbooba Mufti is a statesman politician who cannot be bogged down by emotions. She is well versed with her responsibilities, especially in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir. The decision to form the government or to stay out lies with her-then and now (the day when her father died and the day she formally met her party leaders). Let there be no confusion in that. And, what really matters is that Mehbooba Mufti is taking her own time only to dump the BJP, alliance with which has cost dearly to her party’s core constituency of Kashmir. She is also seizing the opportunity to regain lost ground and hit back hard to National Conference, which stands marginalised by the rising graph of PDP since its inception in 1999.
The fact remains that PDP’s victory has been the defeat of NC and its political gains in terms of MPs and MLAs have been the loss of Abdullah’s bastion. Therefore, she seems to be in no hurry or mood either to oblige NC or to tie up with BJP.
