PAGD developing cracks as anticipated
Azhar Hussain
SRINAGAR, Aug 1: PDP leader Waheed Parra’s scathing attack on the National Conference (NC) during the party’s foundation day celebration on July 31 has started hot debates in the political arena of Jammu and Kashmir.
The unexpected comments against an ally in the so called Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) targeting National Conference’s historical actions, from election rigging in 1987 to the formation of Ikhwan and SoG have put the ideological differences between the two parties in the spotlight.
The deep-rooted rivalry between PDP and NC traces back to era of Mufti Mohammad Sayed who always had desired for a political alternative in J&K against National Conference. Thereafter, in late 1990s PDP emerged as a strong political front that boldly challenged NC’s long-standing dominance in the region.
This rivalry has now resurfaced with full force. While the PDP was initially formed to counter NC’s hegemony, its recent coalition with the BJP and its seemingly passive role in the PAGD alliance has allowed NC to grow more assertive in its pursuit of political power.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Member Parliament Hasnain Masoodi’s public claims that the NC is more than capable of standing on its own without PDP’s support have subtly added fuel to the fire.
It appears that PDP’s outburst is an attempt to reclaim its once-active political outreach among the people and reestablish its position in J&K’s complex political landscape.
Amidst this intensifying feud between PDP and NC, the PAGD alliance appears to be hanging by a thread, raising questions about its relevance in the current political scenario.
Furthermore, the region is gearing up for Panchayat and Municipal elections, and any discord within the PAGD alliance over seat-sharing could jeopardize both parties’ chances to gain in the electoral contest.
This recent rift may also serve as a timely intervention to prevent such a scenario and allow them to refocus on their individual political identities, keeping their party structures intact.
However, one cannot overlook the pressing question of how legitimate these political parties now remain in the eyes of the public. With the Article 370 now a history, the PDP and NC leaders must address the promises made with the people of J&K to garner some votes in the forthcoming elections, observed a political analyst while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
The upcoming elections will be a litmus test for these parties, and their ability to strike a chord with the people that will eventually shape the region’s political future in relation to upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
The echoes of Parra’s outburst continue to reverberate, leaving the people of in Kashmir on the edge, eagerly waiting to witness the unfolding political drama ahead of any elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
As the dust settles, one thing is for sure-the battle for power and relevance between PDP and NC has just begun, and it promises to be a gripping saga with high stakes and unpredictable twists.
However, there are other political players in the arena now who do have a stake in the vote share, and when it comes to J&K, anything remains possible for the future to reveal.
The complex web of political interactions, alliances and ambitions adds a layer of uncertainty to the region’s political landscape which can only be revealed by the future.
