As DDC polls come near, people change turfs

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 23: With just a few days left for the first phase of the District Development Commission polls to be held in Jammu and Kashmir the political parties are trying to garner as much support as they can to make their presence felt on the ground.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said that during the past few days we have witnessed some people joining here and there. “The trend of people changing their turfs is prevalent more in Jammu region than in Kashmir. But in the Valley also some joinings have taken place.”
He said, “The political parties in Kashmir are aware of the fact that the DDC elections are not any major polls but this exercise will set the tone and tenor for the forthcoming democratic exercises that will be held in near future.”
An observer said that people changing their parties is nothing new and it has been happening for the past so many years. “Just few years ago Jammu region was the bastion of Congress Party but as on date the party is finding it hard to even establish its foothold in the region. The people who used to swear by their affiliation with the Congress party have shifted their loyalties to other parties and have moved on.”
He said, “Politics is all about greener pastures. The Kashmir based parties that have come together and have formed Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) are aware of the fact that they cannot stay away from the power for long as the power binds everyone together.”
“The emergence of the PAGD and its decision to contest the DDC polls is a setback for the newly floated parties which were under the impression that they can make their base stronger by pulling in more and more people with the promise of power,” the observer added.
Another analyst said, “ The forthcoming DDC polls will decide how the people will react to the situation if they come out to vote in large numbers it will change the political scenario completely, but if they stay back then anyone can win these elections.”
A politician said, “The forthcoming polls are a litmus test for the political parties and all the political formations are making an attempt to woo the voters. However, the prevailing inclement weather in Kashmir is making things difficult.”
He said, “The DDC polls are just a beginning; these are not an end. Revival of political activities in Kashmir is a step towards empowerment. Let’s not read too many things between the lines.”