While Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun projecting its clean sweep in Kashmir as mandate to work for “dignified peace and lasting stability,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah whose National Conference (NC) faced the worst-ever defeat has sought feedback from common people to know the reasons for the “enormous setback”.
PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed congratulated Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi for his overwhelming success and hoped that Modi’s developmental agenda would be intensive and political agenda, inclusive. “That is what is needed and expected of Modi in his new role,” he said.
He hoped that the new Government at the Centre, under the leadership of Modi, will take tangible measures to address the causes of alienation and trust deficit in Kashmir and work towards finding long-lasting solution of the problem plaguing the region for more than six decades.
“At the national-level also, people have voted and given a decisive mandate to the BJP for a strong and stable Government. Modi has got the political and electoral legitimacy to head the new Government as the Prime Minister. We must all respect this legitimacy that has been accorded to him by the people of the country,” Mufti said.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti who won Anantnag parliamentary seat has clarified that her party would not seek ministerial berths or forge alliances, but would seek efforts for the political intervention in Kashmir.
Observers say that the PDP would not join NDA formally due to local political compulsions especially in run up to upcoming Assembly polls, but it would remain an active supporter of the alliance.
PDP patron Sayeed said that the results of the lok Sabha polls make it amply clear that the people of the State have come together with their powerful voice and expressed their will in un-ambiguous verdict. They have affirmed our course. They have told us to move forward.
Jammu & Kashmir is at the threshold of a momentous transformation and it today needs, more than ever before, a caring Government, which only a truly committed political party can provide. "I reiterate my party's resolve to work hand-in-hand with the progressive and democratic forces in the country and the region to facilitate dignified resolution of the Kashmir issue and the issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Meanwhile, after facing humiliating defeat in all six lok Sabha constituencies in the State, the ruling NC has embarked on a path to find out reasons for its debacle.
Omar Abdullah sought feedback from people in order to know the causes behind the rejection of NC candidates in lok Sabha polls. Omar tweeted, “gupkar@gmail.com is my email. I’d like to hear from you as to the reasons for the enormous setback (the) NC has faced in these elections.”
“I’ve started the process of introspection and am listening to voices within the party, but I need to hear from people other than colleagues (too). I want to learn, I need to learn. I'd like to try and make amends. I'll give it my best shot and I'd rather fail trying than not try at all,” he wrote on the Twitter.
Sources said that unlike Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who resigned following his party’s poor performance in elections, Omar has chosen to stick to the chair for the rest of his term that completes in November. He has told his party colleagues to work hard to make some impact before facing people in the Assembly polls.
The party's core group is expected to meet in Srinagar next week under the Chairmanship of party president Farooq Abdullah who himself tasted first-ever electoral defeat. The core group will deliberate on party's failures and strategise for the future.