DDC polls: AICC J&K incharge makes first appearance after end of 5 phases

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 11: Congress Party in Jammu and Kashmir has taken a back seat amidst the ongoing District Development Council (DDC) elections in the Union Territory.
According to the analysts the “Grand Old Party” of the country not taking any interest in the ongoing DDC polls has put a question mark over party’s future in J&K. “Leaders of the Congress Party seem to have lost interest in politics. They have gone invisible,” said an analyst.
It’s in place to mention here that AICC incharge J&K, Rajni Patil, appeared in Jammu on Thursday to campaign for the Congress candidates contesting DDC elections. “It was Patil’s first appearance to campaign for DDC polls. The AICC incharge came to J&K after five phases of the ongoing elections were over. Isn’t it strange?” the analyst asked.
He said that the Congress Party is talking about restoration of J&K’s statehood but has omitted Article 370. “The Congress Party has accepted change in J&K’s status-quo and seems in no mood to raise the issue of the revocation of Article 370.”
A politician said that the Congress Party at present is at crossroads in Jammu and Kashmir and doesn’t want to land up I more trouble by raking such issues which don’t fall in its domain. “It has joined hands with Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to contest these elections. Otherwise it’s not a part of the PAGD.”
The PAGD is an amalgam of Kashmir based parties, including National Conference Peoples Democratic Party and other political formations. The amalgam was constituted just a few months ago to “fight for a bigger cause” but soon after the DDC elections were announced the PAGD jumped into the election fray and decided to contest these polls collectively. The Congress leaders made it amply clear that their party is not a part of the PAGD but will contest the DDC polls jointly with the alliance.
An observer said, “It appears that the Congress won’t be able to make any impact in the ongoing DDC polls. In Kashmir party’s base stands eroded. Jammu region which used to be the bastion of the party has been taken over by the other parties. Many of its old horses have moved towards greener pastures. The Congress has not been left with much to bank upon.”
He said, “Rajni Patil is new to J&K politics and she will take time to understand the dynamics of J&K. May be she may learn the basics by the time next elections are held. The ongoing polls are almost in final stages and time to learn has already ended.”