Suhail Dar
With the announcement of elections in Jammu and Kashmir after a decade, a significant shift is unfolding across the region. Numerous leaders have renounced their affiliations with established parties and are joining new ones.
Earlier on Saturday, Taj Mohiuddin, a key ally of Ghulam Nabi Azad and a founding member of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), left the party to join the Indian National Congress. While switching sides close to elections is a common occurrence in Kashmir’s politics, these recent defections could significantly impact the region’s political landscape.
In the recent past, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, a former legislator who joined the Apni Party after leaving the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has become the third legislator to quit the Apni Party in recent times. His resignation followed that of former minister and Apni Party vice-president Usman Majeed.
Sources informed The Kashmiriyat that several key leaders of the Altaf Bukhari-led Apni Party and Ghulam Nabi Azad led DPAP are likely to quit the parties in the coming days. “Meetings are underway in Srinagar to discuss the future of the DPAP. Several key leaders including Azad, Mohammed Amin Bhat and others are participating in this meeting,” said sources privy to this information.
A meeting of Jammu Kashmir Apni Party formed in the aftermath of the abrogation of the Article 370 is also underway in Srinagar. “The party has taken one blow after the other following the Lok Sabha poll debacle. Many leaders have already quit the party and many others will quit the party in the coming days,” sources within Apni Party informed The Kashmiriyat.
Many leaders who spoke to us said that they will confirm their decision to the press within the next three days. “This,” experts say, “will simplify the battle for the regional parties based in Kashmir, giving them a clear option to align with the Congress if they secure enough seats in Jammu.”
“After Apni Party candidates lost their deposits in the Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seats, many leaders within the party are now considering leaving, especially with the assembly elections so close,” they said.
However, the political landscape in Kashmir may not be so black and white. A widespread romour has already gripped the market that BJP is planning an alliance with Kashmir- based parties, however, leaders from both National Conference and People’s Democratic Party have dismissed the possibility of such an alliance.
Advocate Hashim Peerzada, senior leader of Anantnag NC and the son of senior NC leader Peerzada Mohammed Hussain, firmly denied any possibility of an alliance with the BJP. In an interview with The Kashmiriyat, Hashim stated, “There is not even the slightest possibility of joining hands with the BJP. Our party will decide whether we will enter into a pre-poll alliance with Congress or PDP, but it is clear that there will be no coalition with the BJP.”