Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, June 26: The Delimitation Commission is all set to meet soon to appoint more members. This has once again generated debate about the future course of action of the regional parties in Kashmir.
The National Conference leaders, including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi, who were nominated as the members of the Delimitation Commission, refusing to join the exercise is making many people believe that NC won’t become a part of the political process so soon. “The NC vice-president Omar Abdullah has been camping in New Delhi for a long time now. His father and NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah also doesn’t seem that keen to become a part of active politics again. This has put a question mark on the revival of political activities in Kashmir,” an analyst told Precious Kashmir.
He said, “Centre not inviting National Conference to the All Party Meeting which was chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to discuss the India-China standoff in Ladakh, had apparently annoyed Dr Farooq Abdullah.”
It’s in place top mention here when reporters asked senior Abdullah about his reaction to his party being excluded from the APM, the former J&K chief minister had shot back saying, “NC doesn’t need to attend any meeting and we are not responsible for everything that’s happening in J&K and Ladakh.”
An observer said, “In the given circumstances it seems that old regional parties in Kashmir, including NC and PDP are not that keen on joining any political process. The leaders of both these parties have realized that road ahead is not going to be that easy. The delimitation will increase the number of seats in Jammu region and the BJP president, Ravinder Raina, has been saying it repeatedly that some assembly seats will be reserved for Gujjars and Bakerwals. It appears that the big leaders of Kashmir have realized that coming into power again is not going to be that easy. It’s evident from their body language and gestures.”
He said, “BJP leaders have been claiming that delimitation exercise will be completed in a short span of time and assembly elections in J&K will be held soon. The leaders of the saffron party are confident that in absence of any opposition, the party will easily form the government in J&K after the delimitation exercise ends.”
Another analyst said, “Indifferent posturing of Farooq and Omar Abdullah after their release from detention is an indication that father-son duo seem to have given up and they are just watching the developments quietly. What NC and PDP will decide remains to be seen but the big question is would these parties be able to fit themselves in the changed political scenario or not.”
