Setting all dissensions aside Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has won Anantnag literally. The large turnout of women voters during the polling itself was an indication that they are going to elect her and the tradition of low turnout at the constituency since 1990 when militancy broke out is not going to be a deterrent. Realising the vulnerability of the PDP and the criticality of these by-polls for Mehbooba, opposition parties had focused on putting up a tough fight. Mehbooba has the credit of never losing any election and she has been instrumental in leading the party successfully in the assembly election and consolidating the party. This time also she proved her mettle. The election came after the demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. It also brought cracks on the surface which to some extent delayed the government formation. The coalition saw first sign of break up when Sajjad Lone of Peoples Conference, a BJP adjustment candidates, quitting the ministry and vacating the government accommodation and packing up for New Delhi for ‘treatment’. The second one was the ‘one-night portfolio’ allocation of Tribal Affairs for Choudhary Zulfkar Ali. Come morning he is divested of his portfolio without any reason or rhyme. Even the minister himself does not know the reason. What one can assume is the logic behind such change could be the rising to give better representation, provoking Mehbooba to retain the portfolio with herself to streamline the ration distribution system and assuage locals’ feelings and address apprehensions linked with it. Or is that she has succumbed to the pressure of ‘appeasing policy ‘? Whatever may be the reason the beginning for the PDP-BJP combine’s second coming was not smooth as expected. It looks there is some pattern to all the incidents and Mehbooba as chief minister will find sailing tough in coming days. As far BJP is concerned hardly there is any trouble to be expected from their side. If ever, it would be from within the PDP which could pose a challenge to the Chief Minister Mehbooba.
