‘Double Game’ plan of NC exposed accuses BJP

Jammu, Sept 21: As a well calculated move, National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah announced the boycott of the local bodies and panchayat elections in the state using “assurance of State and Central Governments on the continuation of Art 35A” as an alibi. “The ploy of the NC was very obvious in which it once again wanted to “blackmail” the Centre in the hope that it would succumb to its dictate as has been happening during the UPA regime. It got a boost with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also joining the fray and Congress maintaining an ambivalent stand initially but the decision of the government to go ahead with the elections and Congress ultimately deciding to participate, not only shocked and awed the NC but also triggered the panic button among its leadership,” claimed Brig Anil Gupta, State Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party.

In a press release issued here today, BJP once again has accused the NC of scuttling the democratic process of devolution of power to grass-root level institutions in order to protect the party’s family hierarchy. The NC is also conscious of the fact that if the election process succeeds, it may put its political future at stake and the party which considers itself as the “conscience keeper” of Kashmir is not going to let that happen, said Brig Gupta. It was with this in mind that Party Vice President Omar Abdullah announced in a press conference, “We haven’t asked people to not participate or boycott the elections, we have just said that our party won’t take part in it.” This announcement of Omar gave out its game plan, claimed Brig Gupta, as per which it had left the field wide open for NC to field proxy candidates so that they can be used later for bargaining to retain the party’s political relevance.

As the process of filing of nominations has begun, NC’s ‘double game’ has been exposed. It has been reliably learnt that many active members of NC who have in the past contested elections on party tickets and with party symbol have filed their nominations as independent candidates, particularly in areas south of PirPanjal, claimed Brig Gupta. The fact that party has not taken any action to dissuade them indicates that it has the tacit approval of the Party High Command in other words the Abdullahs. PDP is also learnt to be holding closed door meetings in Jammu to field shadow candidates. “Where is the morally high pedestal on which these parties are claiming to be” questioned Brig Gupta and said that these parties stand exposed and have lost their presumed moral highground.

Brig Gupta demanded that NC must act against such proxy candidates and expel them from the party, if it is really sincere about boycotting the elections. Otherwise, the party should give up the façade of boycott and participate in the elections to honour the sentiments of its cadre and for once give preference to “inner party” democracy over centralised dynastic control. The ‘fear of loss’ is keeping the party away from openly participating in the elections as per the press release.