Satwant Singh Rissam
The political system in J and K is believed to be among one of the fragile political systems in India. Over these past decades there came many issues which in a way governed the politics of the J and K State. The J and K state because of such issues was governed at that time by parties which were soft in their ideology to those issues which arose. In a way, the democracy in J and K has witnessed a lot. We will not be wrong if we say that political structure in J and K has gone through many changes in these last six decades. From one- party government to the coalition governments, the state of J and K has seen a lot. If we talk of coalition combinations which till today have happened in J and K, the last government formed in year 2015 between the PDP-BJP is said to be the oddest one. This coalition of PDP-BJP was defined itself by the then Chief Minister Late Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, as ‘North-Pole meeting South-Pole’.
Initially, this combination of PDP-BJP was said to be for mere hunger of power. Various political analysts made predictions that such combination will have a very short life as it was formed just for political survival. But as per PDP-BJP the reason which gave birth to such coalition combination was that the different regions of the J and K have different aspirations all are needed to be addressed. Such has been this development that it is now said to be one of the biggest political developments of the J&K state. This PDP-BJP government arrangement created a lot of buzz even across borders of the state. The whole country also talked of this development with contrasting views over it. The main reason believed for this buzz was that both the parties were ideologically opposite to each other and even fought against each other’s ideology throughout election campaign of 2014.
However, after announcement of the Assembly election results PDP-BJP in order to overcome barriers spent almost two months in attempts to bridge all ideological differences. Finally, to govern the state a common Minimum Programme (CMP) was drafted by forgetting the core ideology of both parties in order to address the aspirations of all regions. Both parties in a way proposed that with CMP they will fill up the regional gap of the state. But after a very short duration of formation of the alliance, the government was shattered with the sudden and untimely death of sitting Chief Minister Mufti Mohd. Sayeed. This death in a way raised eyebrows as PDP-BJP Government appeared defunct with no announcement of the new CM candidate by PDP-BJP. The resultant of it was that the State was put under Governor Rule. It was very much understood that Mehbooba Mufti will head the government soon but as some days passed reluctance was shown by the PDP leadership for immediately appointing the new Chief Minister. Subsequently a debate in the state started that PDP-BJP coalition is over and several political parties jumped into arena over this debate. Nevertheless there was no official debate between the coalition partners and both PDP-BJP in a veiled manner supported the fact about existence of the PDP-BJP tie up. Though both the PDP-BJP supporters wanted a resettlement but on a pattern which satisfied their political needs. It in a way became an issue of social prestige for both the parties in the J and K. Moreover with this delay in government formation in J and K, voices were raised in political circles of the State that Assembly should be dissolved and fresh elections be conducted. The predictions made in the beginning about short survival of this PDP-BJP government for some appeared almost true. The end of alliance appeared near as almost three months had passed and State was still under Governor Rule. Interestingly, things didn’t turn out in way it was predicted and finally on 4th April 2016 Mehbooba Mufti took oath as first woman Chief Minister of J and K. It is believed that underground efforts for rebuilding the alliance worked and it resulted in re-formation of PDP-BJP coalition government in the state.
In the year 2015 itself many things were said about PDP-BJP coalition and even after short interruption which arose out of death of Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, working of the State Government was still assumed to be a tight rope for the coalition partners. This assumption again showed some signs between this rebuild Coalition Government as soon as NIT Srinagar issue struck the Government in J and K. This issue has left the coalition government red faced as all the opposition parties in a way clubbed over this issue to send the government on back foot. The start to second innings of this coalition is not good as Jammu and Kashmir once again appeared totally divided over NIT Srinagar issue. For new Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti it will not be less than a struggle to manage this coalition which is connected with the emotions of the voters in J and K. It is not an ordinary government it is a government which has been built on a hope that all regions will witness tremendous change in terms of growth, development and prosperity. Everyone wishes that under leadership of Mehbooba Mufti there arise no more contradictions within the alliance and whole state of J andK witness positive change. But for some, it will always be a coalition which will be an example for ‘politics of survival’ and for others it will be ‘beauty of democracy’.
