Deepak Kumar Jha    

The arithmetic in Jammu & Kashmir Assembly may not favour formation of any Government in the immediate future, but the legislators and mainstream political leaders are trying to explore the possibility to put in place a new regime.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maintained silence after three of its legislators, including a former Minister, went public against former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The BJP attempted to take advantage of the dissent. Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta claimed “disgruntled legislators belonging to different political parties” may join hands together to support a BJP Government in the State.

The speculation has put People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone at the centre stage. Lone’s recent meeting with BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav in Srinagar triggered speculation that a new alliance was in the offing. However, Lone took to twitter to deny that he held any meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Sources said the PDP’s top leadership in the absence of Mehbooba, who is in New Delhi for the past few days, did not make any attempt to reach out to the disgruntled MLA.

Former Minister Imran Reza Ansari and his legislator uncle Abid Ansari launched a salvo against PDP president Mehbooba Mufti accusing that her incompetence led to the debacle of the coalition Government as she was swarmed by her close relatives and coterie. Another legislator Abbas Wani too joined the Ansari duo and hinted at quitting the party for alleged maltreatment by its leadership.

“Many people in party are disappointed with the leadership. No party leaders approached me to know about my issues,” Wani, who represents Tangmarg constituency, said. The possible revolt in the PDP was published prominently in local newspapers and remained a hot topic in public conversation during the day.

A senior PDP leader told The Pioneer that after Mehbooba returns to Srinagar, the party would call a meeting to discuss the emerging political scenario. “The PDP is a strong political entity. There is scope for diverse opinions but it is too far-fetched to conclude that the recent rumblings can tell upon the strength of the party’s edifice,” he said.

He said that Ansaris had a deep grudge against a few individuals in the party and after the fall of the Government they have gone public.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Tuesday clarified that it has no design to take part in any process aimed at Government formation in J&K.

Speaking to reporters at a local hotel on the sidelines of a daylong meeting of party’s top leadership, JKPCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir said Governor NN Vohra must decide about the fate of the Assembly, which has been kept in suspended animation after the imposition of Governor’s Rule. He said the Congress is of the opinion that Governor’s rule should not be prolonged.

The meeting was attended by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Gulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and Saifuddin Soz. He said the coalition between the PDP and the BJP was destined to fail.

AICC sources in Delhi said despite cordial relations between Mehbooba and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Congress does not want to annoy its natural ally National Conference (NC). Sources said the Congress will not like to take any decision without taking the NC into confidence.

“The decision of formation of a Government is crucial for the party. In any case, the party has to keep in mind the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. A senior Congress leader is also in touch to take the NC leadership into confidence and convince them that the BJP forming a Government again will not be beneficial to either of them (Congress and NC). However, the final call will be taken only after assessing as to how many of the PDP legislators desert Mehbooba,” said a senior AICC functionary.

The dilemma with the Central party leadership is that while the State unit is keen on forming a Government but a section of senior leadership from the AICC does not want to collaborate with any other party when the nation has gone into election mode.

“None of the elected MLAs want an election in the troubled State. Neither the Congress nor the PDP and the BJP. They very well understand that the State was unable to conduct bypoll on two Assembly seats for the last one and a half years. The tenure of the J&K Government is six years. Hence, all of them want a Government,” said the senior Congress leader.

In Jammu, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta triggered fresh speculation over Government formation claiming that a group of disgruntled legislators belonging to different political parties including the PDP may join hands together to support a BJP Government in the State.

“In the coming days, I see dissatisfied MLAs not just from the PDP, but also from the Congress and the NC, are likely to join forces and form a new front,” Kavidner Gupta told a TV news channel.

Gupta was responding to a direct question related to rift within the PDP in the wake of open rebellion by three PDP legislators.

The speculation triggered after Madhav-Sajad meeting and the latter is tipped to lead the front of disgruntled legislators. Senior BJP leaders in Jammu remained tight-lipped over sudden political developments.

Political observers, however, maintained it is going to be an uphill task for the BJP to form a Government under the prevailing circumstances.

BJP with 25 MLAs in its kitty need at least 19 more MLAs and so far only three PDP MLAs have revolted against PDP chief Mehbooba.

Observers say that the new permutations and combinations would be effective only if a large chunk of legislators joins hands, which is highly unlikely. “Jammu & Kashmir has the strongest anti-defection law in place. It makes horse-trading very difficult,” JKPCC chief Mir said.

“What most people are forgetting is J&K has its own anti-defection law. It is different from the anti-defection law at New Delhi and in most other States. It prevents the MLAs from defying their party whip. Even if all the MLAs defy their party whip they are liable to be disqualified,” wrote senior journalist Yusuf Jameel.

Meanwhile, legislator Sajad Lone clarified that he did not meet PM Modi during recent days as reported by TV channels. “Flooded with calls may I clarify that news as reported by some TV channels about me meeting the Honourable PM is totally incorrect,” Lone tweeted.

Courtesy: Pioneer: 04 July 2018