Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s mainstream political parties have welcomed the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s announcement of holding the Assembly polls in the Union Territory (UT) in three-phases beginning September 18, hoping it would restore democracy and help its people towards facing the long-standing challenges democratically.
However, they also emphasized the importance of restoring J&K’s statehood at the earliest to meet the collective desire of its people. “It is good that elections have been announced but the Government of India should also begin to rectify the wrongs it committed in the past six years, particularly after August 2019. It should restore the full legislative powers of the assembly by returning us our constitutional status,” said former minister and National Conference (NC) MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi.
While speaking to this newspaper, Mr. Mehdi said that J&K has witnessed “misdirection” in these years as the UT was run mainly by outside bureaucrats and police officers “who were thrust upon us by New Delhi and were not connected with the people; hence not accountable to anyone here”. He added, “At least, these elections will give the people an opportunity to choose their representatives who would in turn give them an administration that will be answerable to them. I appeal to the people to take part in this democratic exercise wholeheartedly to see this happen”.
NC president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah also asked for the restoration of J&K’s statehood so that full legislative powers could be returned to its assembly. “It is not just us but other political parties also want statehood to be returned. The Government of India has also promised that J&K’s statehood will be restored”, he told reporters.
Mr. Abdullah also said, “I welcome the EDI decision, and I hope it will ensure a level playing field for all the political parties who would be participating in these elections.” He added that he does not want to see that only one party is being privileged. Asked if he would join the fray, the former chief minister said, “Of course, I will. Omar (Abdullah) Sahab will not. When the statehood is restored, I will step down and he will contest the election where I am elected.”
Soon after the ECI announcement, NC vice president Omar Abdullah posted a picture of an inked finger after voting on microblogging site ‘X’ and said, “The indelible ink mark from the recent elections hasn’t gone & we are back in election mode. Bring it on! We are ready!”
Later while speaking to reporters here, the JuniorAbdullah said, “Der aayad durust aayad (better late than never)! Sometime back, the ECI announced the schedule for assembly elections in J&K. The people of J&K were waiting for this day for a long time”. He, however, also said that it is perhaps for the first time after the 1987-88 polls, that the assembly elections in J&K are being held in a short time and in just a few phases. He asserted, “It obviously will be a new experiment for the political parties. But as far as our party is concerned, it was prepared for this day and will soon start the electioneering”.
BJP said the ECI announcement marks a significant step towards the restoration of democratic rights and elected representation for the people of J&K. Its J&K chief Ravinder Raina said, “We were eagerly waiting for this announcement since the Lok Sabha elections. We are fully prepared to contest.” He added, “I am quite sure that the people of J&K will support BJP wholeheartedly in these elections and we will form our own government in J&K. He asserted that in the past decade the Modi government has through its relentless efforts and initiatives, restored peace and started a new era of development by strengthening democracy in J&K. The upcoming elections will further strengthen the roots of democracy, opening the door to a new period of development for J&K.”
Senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmed Mir said that the Supreme Court’s supremacy has been upheld as it had set September 30 as the deadline for the assembly elections in J&K. “I am happy, and I hope the ECI will ensure free and fair elections. The people of J&K deserve it,” he said.
The last Assembly elections in the erstwhile state of J&K were held in 2014. The state was brought under Governor’s rule following the PDP-BJP coalition government collapse in June 2018. J&K was split into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in August 2019 when its special status envisaged in Article 370 was also withdrawn by the Centre.
Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, CPIM’s key face in J&K, also appealed to the ECI to ensure free and fair elections with a level playing field for all parties joining the fray and sufficient security for the candidates. “It (ECI announcement) was long overdue. Anyways it has come, and we welcome it,” he said.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti is silent, so far, but her daughter and media advisor Iltija Mufti said that the assembly elections in J&K should have been held six years ago immediately after the PDP-BJP government collapsed and the people given their democratic right to elect their own government. “The last assembly elections were held in 2014 and for the past six years the people are being ruled by those picked up by New Delhi. This has been happening in a country which is the world’s largest democracy. What should have been done six years ago is going to happen now. Anyhow, we welcome it,” she said.