To ally, or not to ally

 

 

While a decision has almost been reached over early elections – tentatively in April-May 2008 – consensus eludes partners in J&K’s ruling coalition over the continuance of the alliance. Though cracks in the coalition have been visible ever since Ghulam Nabi Azad took over as the chief minister of J&K from PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the cracks have gone deeper ever since Azad developed a ‘soft corner’ for the National Conference.

The coalition partners have found themselves at opposite ends over issues like demilitarisation and sacking of former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh.

As the coalition partners remain distanced for the time being, the decision by National Conference patron, Farooq Abdullah, to take to active politics after a gap of six years, a triangular contest could turn into a dual with Congress either embracing National Conference or remaining content with the present coalition. “If there is to be a coalition, it will be on our terms. If they (Congress) are not ready for our terms, we will go on our own. We have that much strength,” says Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, now in PDP after quitting the National Conference in 2005.

Equally determined to do away with the coalition is Congress General Secretary Abdul Gani Vakil: “Our party’s viewpoint is that we are in a position to fight elections on our own. Our coalition partner has not supported us sincerely and I think there will be no rationale in continuing with the alliance,” Vakil says.

As per schedule, the coalition Government completes its term in November 2008. Sources say that Azad had even proposed an ordinance to continue till early 2009, which is now least likely to happen. For the PDP early elections could be the way out of an alliance that’s not going anywhere.