Mir Ehsan  

Anger in its stronghold where many youngsters joined militancy may hit party

The party has lost many supporters in South Kashmir after it joined hands with the BJP; now it remains to be seen whether party will also lose its prominent workers to any other party in coming days A PDP LEADER, On condition of anonymity

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) pullout from its nearly 40-month alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presages testing times for the latter in its political citadel of South Kashmir, say analysts.

The PDP has 28 legislators in the 87-member assembly, and most of them are from South Kashmir, which has proved to be its bastion in many elections in the past.

With many locals in the region joining the ranks of militancy, though, the anger that is brewing in its core constituency could

prove to be a challenge for the PDP, which counts amnesty granted to over 10,000 people, suspension of counter-insurgency operations during the holy month of Ramzan and the regularisation of the services of daily wage workers among its major achievements.

But the PDP, which joined hands with the BJP to form a coalition government after the assembly elections in 2014 threw up a hung assembly, has failed to deliver what it pledged: peace and economic development .

“The party has lost many supporters in South Kashmir after it joined hands with the BJP; now it remains to be seen whether party will also lose its prominent workers to any other party in coming days ,’’ said a PDP leader on condition of anonymity.

After the split with the BJP, the PDP will face stiff resistance when chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and senior PDP leaders go back to those areas of Kashmir from where the party used to draw its influence and strength.

And, in the absence of her father, the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was considered the biggest pillar of support not only for the party but also for Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP is bracing for new challenges. Sayeed died in January 2016.

“There could be efforts by the BJP to make an alternative front in the coming months,” a PDP legislator said, citing the possibility of its estranged ally poaching PDP members.

“This could be the biggest challenge. It has happened in the past and can’t be ruled out in near future. That is going to be testing time for the party,’’ the legislator said, requesting anonymity.

“Compared to previous polls, things have changed drastically since Mehbooba Mufti took over as J&K chief minister,” he added. “Militancy has shown a drastic upward trend and it will be difficult for Mehbooba Mufti to move around as she used to be when the party was out of power.”

Mir Ehsan letterschd@hindustantimes.com

Courtesy: Hindustan Times: 20 Jun 2018