A Generational Shift

The 2008 election proved slightly different. As Congress veterans were weighing options, Omar cobbled an alliance with his dirt-biker friend Rahul and became J&K’s chief executive for six years. Rahul and Omar continue to swear by the generations of relationship between the two families. Four years later, Omar entrusted his two lieutenants the job of working hard for next two years and get him back to power in 2014.

The duo is to manage a larger team that has been spared from various governmental positions for various reasons. It has Javed Dar in Baramulla, Agha Ruhullah in Budgam, Jamsheed Lone in Kupwara, Abdul Gani Malik in Chenab Valley and many ‘elders’ in between.

All those dropped from the council are being recharged and motivated that it is only two years that is the time gap between them and their saddle. The strategy is to get the elected panch lead the new team to a voters mind. Members of the Panchayat Raj Institution might become a salaried lot soon and they will help the new team manage the voter bypassing the disgruntled lot of the lawmakers. Come March and the two men who think they have graduated in politics will be unleashing a new wave of political activities in Jammu as well as in Kashmir.

Though a south-specific strategy is yet to be devised, the rest is not so unclear. In upper north, the objective is to encourage both engineer and the ‘separatist convert’ to aspire for a larger pie. For lower north, the focus is on Baramulla and Pattan as the party thinks Rafiabad is already in its pocket! Ganderbal being king’s constituency, insiders insist they will keep it entirely. For Srinagar and Budgam, let Sagar and Rather prove that staying put in government helps the vote bank!

If the cabinet reshuffle that Omar affected last week is an indication, then NC is working towards contesting polls jointly. Instead of a post-poll alliance, they may have a pre-poll alliance, something they did in the last year’s polls for four legislative seats which they won hands down.

Choice of faces in the new council of ministers tacitly conveys a message. The party is preparing itself in such a way that the existing numbers do not alter. The focus is essentially on Kupwara, Bandipore, Srinagar, and Ganderbal. Budgam and Kulgam could fall in category-II. Baramulla and Islamabad is spared for Congress and the rest is open.

In Jammu, NC has not disturbed Congress in either Rajouri or Poonch or in Doda and Ramban. Between Kishtwar and Marh, NC has left the entire erstwhile estate to be cannibalized by Panthers and Congress. Interestingly, however, Omar skipped seeking better choices from Congress to man positions like education or tourism. Observers read Omar’s keenness to make Congress (read the official Congress led by Prof Saif ud Din Soz) comfortable in dealing with him.

The reshuffle, interestingly, has triggered certain “manageable” problems in the coalition. NC’s two lawmakers who were appointed as Vice-Chairmen to two autonomous boards with ministerial status have refused to accept it. Kafeel-ur-Rehman, a three-time lawmaker representing border Karnah constituency, was appointed VC of the Advisory Board for Development of Pahari speaking people. His colleague, MLA Radhey Shyam Sharma representing Nowshera, was appointed as Vice-Chairman of Advisory Board for Development of Kissans. Both have refused to take up the assignments in protest against their non-inclusion in the council of ministers. Next day Kafeel-ul- Rehman was elevated to the cabinet minister status.

They were supposed to replace two party lawmakers – Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari and Rashpal Singh. Both were sent to the party in the reshuffle.

Though J&K government is restricted by a constitutional amendment not to have a council of ministers more than 20 percent of the joint strength of the twin legislative bodies – a total of 25 ministers, the government is appointing its lawmakers as heads of various autonomous bodies. While there is nothing much to be done, they have ministerial status and all other amenities. J&K has eight institutions including six boards and two permanent commission headed by lawmakers. It excludes advisors who also have similar status and positions. Post-reshuffle, the number of advisers was reduced from three to one.

Congressman and Inderwal (Kishtwar) lawmaker Ghulam Ahmad Saroori has sought resignation of his state party president, Prof Saif ud Din Soz, for “weakening the party”. A staunch loyalist of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Saroori was Works Minister and axed for his daughter allegedly appearing in a professional examination by proxy. Saroori said he was on Haj pilgrimage when he was removed and the case was transferred to the CBI. When he protested, he was assured by Omar Abdullah and Soz that he will be re-inducted once the CBI clears him. Even after he was given clean chit by the CBI, he was left out. This has angered his loyalists and by now around 600 panchs and sarpanchs from his constituency have resigned and want him to come out of Congress formally.

Insiders said Saroori was left out because, this time, Soz had the authority to decide on behalf of Congress. That is perhaps why, insiders said, a number of ministers loyal to Azad were given insignificant portfolios. These included Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Irrigation Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Peerzada Sayeed and Nawang Rigzin Jora.

Omar’s lieutenants are confidant. “It is a privilege and a matter of pride for me that the party leadership found me worth holding the responsibility of Provincial President,” Rana reacted immediately after he welcomed the new minister at Raj Bhawan. “It is a huge responsibility.” He said the decision indicated farsightedness of his working president.

Nasir Sogami also reacted on expected lines. “We have a huge challenge at hand which is the 2014 elections and I would put in every possible effort to strengthen the party at the grass root level”, Sogami said. Asserting that the party can not be strengthened from the civil secretariat (a shot at the elders), Sogami’s first priority is to detect the “weaknesses in various aspects with regard to the party”.