Will BJP Willy Nilly Emerge a 'Winner' by Default in J&K Civic Polls?
While a majority of people on the ground consider these elections "futile," threats by militants, a spate of killings and boycott calls by PDP, NC have left the field open.
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By contesting the local body polls in Jammu & Kashmir, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying hard to gain a toehold in the valley's grassroots politics, but the mood of the people on the ground tells a different story. However, the boycott of these polls by the two major parties -- the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) -- and the Congress not fielding candidates in volatile regions, may end up with BJP emerging as a winner by default.
Elections to the local bodies are scheduled to begin on October 8 and continue until October 16.
Apart from BJP, only Congress and Sajjad Lone's People Conference are in the fray, which is making the BJP feel confident of emerging a winner without a contest. The party has already won two municipal committees unopposed in the militancy-infested South Kashmir and is already leading in seven municipal bodies, without any campaign, and with minimal political presence. PDP and NC are boycotting polls citing that the situation in the state is not "conducive" for elections.
It's pertinent to note that both the municipal and panchayat elections are being held in J&K after a long time, with the former being held after a gap of 13 years.
However, an overwhelming majority of people on the ground believe that voting in the upcoming polls will not improve their fortunes. “It’s a drama enacted by the BJP. They want to make inroads into the politics of Kashmir and are preparing the ground for the next Assembly elections. Moreover, these elections will invite militancy and violence to the capital of Kashmir which has comparatively seen fewer militancy incidents for the last five years,” said Waseem Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar.
Those who are not willing to participate in the electoral process cite various factors for their decision. Some 60 kilometers away in militancy-infested Shopian district, people term these elections as an "eyewash" and attempt by the BJP to hide the “ground reality”. “No one is going to cast their vote in the elections as these are not the solution to the Kashmir problem. By these elections, the BJP only wants to show its supremacy. They want to deceive the people of their country by claiming to have conducted elections in these hostile conditions. Otherwise, what is the fun of winning elections without an opponent?” Abdul Basit Wani, a resident of South Kashmir's Shopian District told NewsClick.
Some people feel that such elections have "lost their essence" in J&K as these add to the miseries of the people, making them more agitated. “These elections may bring development but people consider these as a war with the government. In addition, the major political parties have boycotted the elections. It is just a formality and nothing else,” Ghulam Mohidin from Anantnag said.
Kulgam resident Showket Ahmad told NewsClick that there was a deep feeling of mistrust between the people and the government. “People are unhappy with these elections and I think they no longer trust the government, whether in the state or the Centre. Also, there are threats from militants.”
A few residents termed the entire electoral process as "futile" against the backdrop of the spate of recent killings as well as due to threats from militants. In Northern Kashmir people said these elections would yield "negative" results. "We are least interested in the candidates and the results. However, we fear that this election might worsen the situation here and invite violence and bloodshed,” Faisal Ahmad, a Baramulla resident, told NewsClick.
Political commentators, too, term these elections as a "misadventure" and feel that these might worsen the situation in Kashmir. “Every step the Centre has taken in past few years has boomeranged and these elections will meet the same fate," Sheikh Showkat, a political expert, told NewsClick. He also blamed the "arrogant attitude" of New Delhi for pushing the mainstream parties into separatism and youth into militancy. “It was unheard of NC and PDP boycotting the elections. The Centre is confused and doesn’t know what to do? The people at the helm of affairs seem naive and don’t know the outcomes of their decisions,” he said.
Independent candidates said that like most people, the candidates too were scared. “Undoubtedly, security issues have heightened since the past few years and Kashmir is not facing such a challenge for the first time. In the past, elections have been conducted in such adverse situations and governments have been formed,” said an independent candidate from Srinagar requesting anonymity, adding that they were in the fray as they do not want BJP to use this opportunity to ascend to power in Kashmir.
Several independent candidates said they had not chalked out any strategy for campaigning. “We don’t know how to approach people but are devising a way to do it,” said a candidate, adding that “If mainstream political parties have stayed away from the polls, we believe it is our responsibility to keep the BJP away from Kashmir".
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