The PDP-BJP government in Jammu & Kashmir took the oath of office on 1 March,2015 in the Zorawar Singh Stadium of Jammu, with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as chief minister for the full term of six years and Nirmal Singh of BJP as deputy CM. Prime Minister Mr. Narender Modi was also present at the oath taking ceremony. Twelve cabinet ministers from each party were also sworn-in. This was the first time that the BJP was a coalition partner in the Jammu and Kashmir government. Lone and independent MLA for Udhampur, Pawan Kumar Gupta, were also sworn-in as cabinet ministers from the BJP’s quota.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the BJP leadership in state as well as at the centre knew that the coalition was not what the people of the state voted for, but to honour the mandate of all the three regions of jammu and kashmir they had no other option than to form a govt. so that the eventuality of a fresh election could be averted. This was a coalition formulated under compulsion and more importantly to uphold the people’s mandate, because it was a clear cut divided but outright mandate for both parties in valley for PDP and in the jammu province for BJP.
“We have to merge North Pole and South Pole,” said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed after taking oath as the new chief minister of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. “We want to make this alliance a turning point. We want to do justice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir “, he asserted. But since the advent of the Mufti rule in J&K it was quite evident that there was difference of opinion and policy clash between the two parteners and everything was not going so well and the ultimate sufferers were the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
May be things would have been different and the Govt. would also last for its complete term if Mufti’s death would have not occured. On 7th January 2016 when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed breathed his last, it was a day of total chaos and the fate of the state was struck in a phase of confusing uncertainty.
It took quite a time for Mehbooba Mufti to go into an alliance with the BJP . Only political gurus can be carrying an opinion about her late decision. Or may be the BJP could not convince her just because she might have come with some special agenda of her own, which could have posed constraints on the BJP as well. But anyways they somehow entered an alliance of compulsion.
Why to call it an alliance of compulsion is not a difficult thing to understand. But that in fact was the arrangement that could be sought at that point in time.
No matter the Govt. lasted for more than three years but there were huge differences between the two parteners to the extent that the statements given by their leaders would never match. Exactly North and South pole, as the late Mufti put it.
Opposition also never let an opportunity go in taunting and ridiculing the alliance partners.
To be more precise the coalition was termed as unholy in the political circles and it was perhaps this pressure which proved counter productive for both BJP and PDP that led to the breakup.
Blame game was what was going on for all these three years and development was eluding the state of Jammu and Kashmir. And if some hope for the peace to return was there that too was marred by the decision taken by the central ministry on the consistant persuance of CM Mehbooba Mufti, who always believed on the theory of tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. ( Whether people of Kashmir for her include Kashmiri Pandits, Ladakhis and the people from Kargil, will best be known to her.)
BJP attributed the pulling out of alliance to various other factors and forcible decisions like amnesty to the stone pelters on the ground that they were the “first timers” who got misled by the separatist leaders.
An unethical demand of talks with Pakistan, who does’nt respect the sanctity of ceasefire during the month of Ramadaan, a month meant for prayer and peace. Not being in line with the ideology of the alliance partner on economic and other developmental agendi. All this also was not proving to be productive for the soft running of the Govt.
PDP always postured for talks with Hurriyat and the soft stance of Mehbooba towards the separatist amalgamate created a sense of distrust and idiosyncratic belief which led to BJP pulling out of alliance.
Alliance is over. WHAT NEXT?
Well that is what has to be seen with an eye on general elections in 2019. Though His Excelency Governor Sh. N. N. Vohra sent the recommendation of Governor rule to the President which was accepted forthwith. How the change of guard is going to improve the worsening situation in the state will be closely watched not only by the political crirics in India but internationally as well.
However, certain important areas are bound to get the special attention by the incumbent arrangement. And the decision that Army will be given a free hand may to a greater extent be very fruitful in curbing the terrorist activities and bringing normalcy back in the terror hit state.
It is expected that Operation all out will get a further boost during the governor rule in neutralizing the militant ranks and giving a set back to Pakistan sponsored proxy war against India.
Governor N N Vohra’s suggestions to the central Govt. after taking the reigns of power into his hands included a new national security policy, a new anti-terror law, a specialised national security administrative cadre and the creation of a new ministry for national security. All this seems to be the demand of the hour anf definitely centre will have to consider it on a broader perspective keeping in view the terrorist and anti national activities of Kashmir in particular and that of the rest of the country in general.
So, all that can be hoped is a changed scenario in the Valley, fulfillment of Operation all out with a firm resolve, silencing the Anti national voices, dealing with corruption and other financial malpractices and misappropriations, boosting up of the tourism industry which happens to be the back bone of State’s economy, motivating the misled youth to shun violence and contribute to the National cause, a safe and dignified return of Kashmiri Hindus to their homes and hearths in the valley and last but not the least ensuring an everlasting peace thereby creating a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections in the State of Jammu and Kashmir to put it on the rails of development, peace, prosperity and progress.