The BJP’s decision to pull the rug from under Mehbooba Mufti’s feet to end the “unpopular alliance” that ruled the embattled State for three years, came as a jolt for the PDP leadership.
Observers say that Mehbooba, whose popularity hit the rock bottom during her tumultuous tenure, lost the face and political argument in the bargain.
Reacting to the sudden decision of the BJP, Mehbooba said, “We brought in unilateral ceasefire which brought a lot of relief to the people. We can’t have a muscular policy in Jammu & Kashmir... We weren’t a part of an alliance just for power.”
Mehbooba tried to put up a brave face while announcing that she submitted her resignation to Governor NN Vohra. This was the least she could do to count that her Government tried to initiate dialogue with separatists and Pakistan, gave amnesty to stone pelters and ensured a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramzan. She said the muscular policy would not work in J&K in future. She was actually catching the first straw to salvage the lost political arguments.
The BJP had the last laugh as it left the PDP licking its wounds. The move would help the BJP gain losing ground in Jammu and ladakh regions and gain political mileage at the national level.
They say that the imposition of Governor’s rule would mean upping the ante against terrorists and their sympathisers who have exponentially grown during these years.
Sources said the PDP leadership never imagined the alliance would end in a humiliating way. Sources said the BJP leadership did not even inform Mehbooba of its decision to pull the plug and she came to know of it when she received a phone call from Governor NN Vohra.
The PDP obviously misjudged the game plan of the alliance partner whose fresh manoeuvring is understandably linked with the 2019 general elections in the country.
“Whatever the political scene emerges in the aftermath of the Government’s fall, the fact is that the development again highlighted the fragility of rulers from Kashmir and New Delhi’s repeated attempts to disgrace them,” noted journalist Altaf Hussain told The Pioneer.
He said the coalition between the PDP and the BJP did not work from day one and it was destined to fail.
Observers say that inevitable Governor’s rule would not be like the previous two occasions when such arrangements were made since the Assembly elections were held in 2014.
“This time, the ground situation is explosive in Kashmir. Annual Amarnath yatra is round the corner and anti-terror operations have been resumed (after calling off ceasefire). The people are virtually in a combat mode, especially in south Kashmir,” said Haroon Rashid, editor of Urdu daily Nidai Mashriq. “In absence of any political outreach, the situation is going to be more sensitive,” he said.
Interestingly, the common people chose to remain indifferent to the political development. However, in the long run, the sacking of the Mehbooba Government would further erode New Delhi’s credibility in Kashmir.
“It has revived the memories as to how Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was sacked and arrested in 1953, Mir Qasim was asked to quit in 1975, Farooq Abdullah was dismissed twice in 1984 and 1989 and Mufti Sayeed was asked to quit in 2005,” Rashid said.
He said the ground situation would not allow immediate holding of elections in Jammu & Kashmir. “The by-election for Anantnag lok Sabha constituency could not he held nor were the panchayat polls possible. This situation is not going to change overnight. Therefore the Governor’s rule is likely to stay for more time than expected,” he said.