Pulwama Attack- Battle And The Ballot

The Pulwama attack resulted in the opposition declaring a ceasefire, but it will not be long before the guns are out.

- Soni Mishra And Pratul Sharma

It was a poignant scene as tricolour-draped coffins of the martyred CRPF personnel arrived at Delhi’s Palam airport two days after the February 14 Pulwama attack. The mood was sombre as the nation was in mourning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was there to pay his homage when the last post was sounded. Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal were also there to pay tributes. The presence of these leaders did provide some reassurance to millions watching the ceremony live.

The following day, all the political parties met to send a message to people and the armed forces that they can bury their differences for a cause. They had a common enemy: Pakistan.

But, the real trouble for the political parties is the anger building up on the streets. The Pulwama attack meant that the political capital the BJP derived out of the surgical strike has been nullified. Also, the party’s dalliance with a perceived hardliner, the PDP, had ended in a bitter breakup. There has been little gains in Kashmir, or with Pakistan—the two areas which the BJP harped on during the 2014 campaign. The rising number of body bags is trouble for any government, especially in an election year. The hindutva plank has suffered a dent, with no tangible delivery on Kashmir and Ram Temple.