Mehvish Dilshad
Boycott, killings, uncertainties, and a lot happened before, during and after the Panchayati Urban and Local body (ULB) elections of Jammu and Kashmir this year.
The word “Election” itself has a traumatizing effect on the people of valley. Because of the chaos that ultimately culminates into killings. People of Kashmir therefore unlike mainland Indians are reluctant to cast votes.
Due to the current disturbing circumstances in the valley, wherein young and educated youth is killed in encounters, happening every other day, there has been an increased sense of alienation in any political machinery including elections.
“Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have said that they are not participating in the upcoming elections because there have not been any clarification on Article 35A. When the assembly elections come, all of us as Kashmiris will remind them of this and then, either clarification should come or they should not fight in those elections
So what are the ULB elections and the motive behind them being held? They are the local level elections held for choosing a municipal corporation head, the Mayor. A municipal corporation is supposed to work in coordination with the state government for effective execution of various programs where the powers and functions of the municipal commissioner are many and varied.
The municipal elections outside the valley is an opportunity for people to choose happily and freely by actively participating in the election without any fear and disruption but in Kashmir these elections are being held after a gap of 13 years and still is not serving as an opportunity to choose a mayor but stepping back from participation.
The situation here is so derailed that it has turned into low confidence and less interest of people to come out and participate in elections. People are not ready to entertain any good in the process, because they have psychologically given upon the idea of normalcy in the valley.
For the first time the two main stream parties of the state, National conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the separatists were seen on the same page by boycotting the elections. Two main stream parties have shown no participation in the process at all .The reasons might have been different but the stand remained the same.
Though by boycotting the elections, NC and PDP made it easier for the other parties to take a lead which could be clearly seen as Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) emerged out as winners taking the majority seats in the Jammu and the Kashmir divisions respectively.
The valley for obvious reasons witnessed the lowest percentage of votes but on the other hand in Jammu and Ladakh the massive participation of the people in the election process.
All this leads us to the questions like was the boycott by mainstream parties and the Hurriyat a good decision? Should the elections had not been held seeing the circumstances in the valley? Was the reason for which the elections were being boycotted turned out to be sane? Or did it all just go in vain?
These are some of the many questions that come up in our mind when we think about the ULB elections and the outcome of it. (KNB)
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