When two opposing sides come together in politics, it is for their own self interest. When they part, it is again for their own self interest. The BJP-PDP alliance came to an end as it had run its course. But who is the real victim here?
It was an open secret that PDP was waiting for an opportune moment to break off ties with the BJP. In a very Machiavellian move, BJP broke ties first. In all this, it is clear that PDP has been left with the shorter end of the stick. The party has suffered at the grassroots with nothing to show from its three years in power. However, it must not yet be written off. It was the shrewd politics of late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and the hard work of his daughter Mehbooba that built the party from ground up carving a space for itself in a landscape dominated by National Conference.
And while PDP is feeling Sayeed’s absence, Mehbooba suffered a big dent on her political image when a 21-year-old militant was killed in south Kashmir in an encounter that led to the chain of events that brought BJP and PDP to their current positions.
Many political commentators claim that the break up gives BJP a free hand at dealing with militancy and Pakistan in a stringent manner. Some quarters of the army and local police are rejoicing the move as it takes political pressure away from them. However, a few question arise. What was the PDP’s functionality in the alliance? And did they serve their purpose?
PDP from its inception established itself as a regional party specific to the needs of J&K. It made the valley its base and came up with a strategy dubbed by its opponents as “soft separatism”, due to its activism in the valley.
In 2002 when the party stormed to power, it actually began to heal J&K on many fronts. It kept calling for dialogue between New Delhi and Kashmir. Civil society was strengthened in the state. New technology of cellphone was also introduced besides a few ornamental projects. Even plying of buses and trucks was started (with severe restrictions) across the LoC. Under these circumstances, the alliance between BJP and PDP, although poles apart, should have worked magic to improve the situation in the state. However, neither dispensation was able to achieve anything worthwhile and both are to be blamed equally for the failure.
Instead of working for the collective interest of J&K, both parties served self-interest. It is no doubt that BJP will act with more force against the Pakistani supported elements now than it has done in the past three years in the state. Question remains, who will talk to those citizens that feel fatigued by the conflict and just want peace. PDP would have been an important link to communicate with these disgruntled citizens. In an attempt to gain politically across India, it seems the BJP has sacrificed J&K.
