By: Afaq Bhat
Srinagar: Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD)—an amalgam of regional parties—that consisted of National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and other political formations—seems to be awaiting a “formal burial.”
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Peoples Conference led by Sajad Gani Lone pulling out from the conglomerate seems to have ended the bonhomie between the regional parties that had come together to fight for a bigger cause. The NC and PDP leaders haven’t met each other for a longtime and it seems that the PAGD constituents are not that interested to carry forward the alliance.”
It’s in place to mention here that the PAGD had fought the District Development Council (DDC) elections that were held last year under a single banner and had won 102 DDC seats. “After the DDC poll results were declared the conglomerate couldn’t frame a joint strategy to cling on to the success it had achieved,” the analyst added.
He said, “Situation that has emerged during the past few months has proven it beyond doubt that political parties in Kashmir are finding it hard to make a comeback. The National Conference leaders have turned silent, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has been caught in too many wrangles. People Conference has got a shot in its arm as prominent leaders from North Kashmir have joined the party in the recent past.”
An observer said, “The political scenario in Kashmir has changed drastically. Whenever assembly elections are held no single party will be in a position to call the shots. After the delimitation process gets completed, Jammu and Kashmir regions will have equal number of seats. Forming a government for any party won’t be an easy task.”
He said, “After August 5, 2019, the situation in J&K has changed completely. Politicians, who used to call the shots in the erstwhile state are struggling to keep their parties intact.”
A leader of a political party said, “Sooner or later New Delhi will have to restore J&K’s statehood and politicians will make a comeback. The political parties won’t become irrelevant; they will have a role once delimitation is over. The PAGD may or may not exist but in the changed scenario it doesn’t make a lot of difference. If the politicians want to remain relevant they will have to prove their worth. They will have to keep their roles confined to the jobs that will be assigned to them.”
He said, “The PAGD seems to have hit a dead end and it appears that it has ceased to exist.”
