New J&K regime must focus on development
After months of uncertainty and instability, following the death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, that threatened to undermine a historic mandate which had brought the BJP to a position of power in Jammu & Kashmir and paved the way for its extraordinary alliance with the PDP, it is time for normalcy to return to the State’s power corridors — now that a new Government has been sworn-in. Re-working the dynamics of this coalition Government wasn't easy, especially with Mehbooba Mufti, the Mufti's daughter, PDP chief and now Chief Minister, demonstrating initial reluctance. These past three months saw some adroit political manoeuvring on both sides, and the result is there for all to see. However, this is just the first new chapter for the PDP-BJP Government. The main challenge of delivering good governance, and that too in a difficult State such as Jammu & Kashmir, lies ahead. If the initial statements of the recently-sworn in Government leaders are anything to go by, it seems they are well-aware that they need to hit the ground running. As Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said, the Government must deliver or else there will be no second chance. She has to steer her ship through choppy seas.
The PDP's tie-up with the BJP, which the senior Mufti had described as a “meeting of the North and South Poles”, may have been stabilised and settled on paper for now, but in reality, it will have to be negotiated between the two partners on a daily basis, at least till a comfortable working dynamic is established. This raises the possibility of good governance being bogged down by coalition troubles. For instance, when the senior Mufti was still at the helm, many observers had felt that the BJP had been relegated to a lower position in the Government while the PDP and its associates had cornered the important posts and portfolios. Similarly, there was also much heartburn over the PDP's handling of separatist issues — one can expect it to continue to remain a sensitive matter for its coalition partner. But that said, there is reason to hope that in case of a serious conflict (and there will be quite a few), both parties will work towards a quick and effective resolution, as they are committed to the alliance. The PDP will not want to alienate the electorate in Jammu which overwhelmingly voted for the BJP while the BJP cannot afford to blow its first shot at power in Jammu & Kashmir.
An important variable in all of this will, of course, be Mehbooba Mufti herself. This is her first term as Chief Minister, and though she is no political greenhorn having served the public for more than two decades, she will still have a difficult path to walk. As West Bengal's experience with Mamata Banerjee is showing, the transition from street-fighter and Opposition leader to head of Government is hardly smooth or natural. Apart from the coalition challenges, Mehbooba Mufti will also have to manage her own reputation as a firebrand leader. like all her predecessors, she will have to figure out how to work with New Delhi (here, perhaps, it may help to have the BJP as coalition partner) without being accused of selling out to the Centre or alienating her core constituencies at home. Eventually, a great deal of political criticism can be blunted if the Government performs.