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Skipping assembly polls, whenever held, not possible for major political parties even if statehood is not restored before elections

- Zahoor Malik

Despite taking a tough stand that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir be restored before the assembly elections, the major mainstream political parties cannot afford to skip the assembly polls whenever held even if their demand is not met.

This is in spite of the fact that the implementation of the recommendations to be made by the delimitation commission are likely to change the spectrum and equations of the electoral politics in the erstwhile state.

National Conference, which is the key player in Kashmir politics and important constituent of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), will not like to stay away from polls and give a cakewalk to pro-centre parties. NC described the delimit at ion process as unconstitutional but still held meetings with the delimitation commission. There is a general feeling that since the party did not boycott district development council (DDC) polls; it cannot stay away from assembly elections.

However, it is to be seen whether PDP would join the electoral fray or not. The party avoided meeting the delimitation commission. If reports from within the PDP are to be believed then a section of the party leadership is unhappy with president Mehoooba Mufti for boycotting the delimitation commission. They fear further victimisation by the government.

CHALLENGING MONTHS AHEAD