Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 27: The differences among the Gupkar alliance partners over seat sharing agreement have brought to fore the cracks which can widen if the leadership doesn’t address this issue forthwith.
On Thursday senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party Ghulam Nabi Hanjura addressed a news conference here and urged Dr Farooq Abdullah, president of the Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to take a note of this issue to avoid confusions and infighting within the amalgam.
“There were already issues on seat sharing in the amalgam and I was crestfallen the moment I saw NC has fielded its candidates on 13 out of fourteen seats in Budgam constituency. This is not good for the alliance. I appeal to the alliance head to review decisions on seat sharing before the differences grow deeper,” Hanjura had said.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party are the two major constituents of the PAGD. If the main partners come at loggerheads with each other, then one can imagine what could be the future of the alliance.”
He said that soon after the PAGD decided to contest the DDC polls—slated to be held in eight phases from Saturday onwards in Jammu and Kashmir— it was decided that only one candidate of each party will contest from the DDC constituency. “But in many places where the party candidates were denied mandate, they are contesting as independents against the PAGD nominees. This can lead to votes getting divided and opponents chipping in,” the analyst added.
He said, “The PAGD leadership is caught in a difficult situation. On one hand NC and PDP have got their workers who have stood with their parties during difficult times, while on the other hand these parties have to follow the agreement they have entered into to put up a fight.”
An observer said, “The DDC elections are a litmus test for the PAGD as the results of these polls will shape up the future of the local politicians in Kashmir. But if the partners indulge in bickering they will end up on the losing side and it can have far-reaching consequences in the long run.”
Referring to the assertions of senior PDP leader, Ghulam Nabi Hanjura about National Conference grabbing more seats, the observer said, “The PDP leader has spoken what others wanted to say. It’s not PDP only other alliance partners are also feeling the pinch. The NC grabbing lion’s share is hurting everyone.”
