Jammu, Oct 8: Negotiations behind the smokescreens are adding zing to the political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, with an intriguing element of suspense.
This is clearly evident post-announcement of schedules by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for biennial elections to four vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir and by-polls to Budgam and Nagrota assembly segments.
As the key players have gone into a huddle to zero in on the candidates from the list of probables, the trepidation is all-time high among the ‘hopefuls.’
The veil of secrecy being maintained by the political parties in the negotiations underway at formal and informal levels has animated the political-scape.
WHAT IS BEING REALISTIC IN ALLIANCE LINGO?
Officially speaking, the National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – the main players, particularly in the case of Rajya Sabha elections- are maintaining that the deliberations are on and the final names (of candidates) will be out in two or three days.
As far as Congress is concerned, it is engaged in negotiations with the alliance partner, haggling for at least one seat to contest out of four (RS seats).
But seemingly, the negotiations, which were to be transitioned from informal to a formal level, are proving to be tough with the alliance partner, which has entered into the process from a position of strength.
Though in the past few days, the NC spokespersons have maintained that the party will announce its candidates from within the alliance, as Congress has approached their (NC) leadership.
“NC leadership is still mulling over all the prospects and will take an appropriate call,” was the official take.
Interestingly, the individual opinions from the party mince no words in conveying that the seat arrangement with the Congress is not a rational proposition.
Intriguingly, Congress perceives that one seat from the alliance partner will be in realistic terms, NC legislators at the individual level opine that the former (Congress) is not realistic, anticipating even one seat.
National Conference MLA Justice Hasnain Masoodi, when contacted by Greater Kashmir to get an idea about the political churning, does some plain-speaking, yet with a clear emphasis that it is in his individual capacity and not the party’s official stand.
“I don’t see any seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress. Given the numerical strength, I expect NC to contest on all four seats of the Rajya Sabha. Expectations should be realistic. Given the number of seats (MLAs) with them (Congress), they should not anticipate any seat,” Justice Hasnain points out, when confronted with a query about negotiations with the Congress.
Hastily, he adds, “While sharing my views, I need to re-emphasise that this is purely my individual opinion. I’m not authorised to speak on my party’s behalf. What actually happens and what the party does – that call, for sure, will be taken by our party leadership.”
Does he visualise a similar scenario about Budgam and Nagrota assembly by-polls?
“Yes, personally, I expect that both seats will be contested by the National Conference. Both the numbers and recent electoral records favour NC. In the case of the Nagrota assembly segment, we had scored more votes (than the Congress),” he asserts.
Will ‘no seat-arrangement’ impact NC’s alliance with Congress in the days to come?
Even to this query, a seasoned jurist-turned-politician had a precise reply. “No, I don’t think – It should affect the alliance. This is just being realistic.”
Does it mean that Nagrota will witness yet again a ‘friendly contest’ between NC and Congress?
“I don’t know what Congress decides to do. But I reiterate that in my personal opinion, NC should contest it. Final call, in any case, is to be taken by my leadership. I’m not an authorised spokesperson,” Justice Hasnain reaffirms.
When asked about the reports that NC may meet tomorrow to deliberate on these issues, Justice Hasnain stated, “See, as the last date for filing nomination for biennial elections to four Rajya Sabha is drawing near. I believe that the party will be taking a call very soon. There may be a meeting, but when- I’m not privy to any schedule.”
NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq did not respond to repeated calls.
BJP TO MEET ON OCT 9 TO DELIBERATE ON CANDIDATES FOR BUDGAM, NAGROTA
Meanwhile, the BJP, which is known for springing surprises at the last moment, has also maintained that in the next two or three days, it will finalise its candidates.
J&K BJP general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul, while responding to Greater Kashmir queries on this account, stated, “No, so far, no names have been finalised. It (process) is likely to be completed in two or three days.”
With regard to the finalisation of candidates for Budgam and Nagrota assembly segments, Koul informed, “The party will meet tomorrow in Jammu to deliberate on this issue.”
Earlier, Koul, joined by J&K BJP president Sat Sharma, have met senior central leaders in the union capital to zero in on the names of candidates for Rajya Sabha elections and sort out other related issues.
The issues related to seats to be contested and whether the party will enter into an alliance with the ‘third front’ in J&K for these elections were also deliberated.
The duo, joined by the BJP national general secretary and in-charge J&K affairs Tarun Chugh, met the party’s national president J P Nadda in New Delhi on October 6 with the list of over a dozen probable candidates (for Rajya Sabha), shortlisted by the J&K core group in its meeting on October 4 in Jammu. They met the BJP national general secretary (organisation), B L Santhosh, on October 7.
