Srinagar: At least three top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are hobnobbing with the BJP with an aim to divide the party and continue the alliance in case of a break-up. The old guard of the PDP feel left out as they think a few youngsters are running the party, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.
The partys leadership, the report said, is looking at ways to keep the alliance afloat and stay in power because other options appear to be running out. Plunging the party into a deeper crisis is the Chief Minister Mehbooba Muftis unproductive meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM Modi has rebuffed her proposal for a dialogue with stakeholders in the Valley.
There is a sense (in the party) that the alliance may not survive for long but most leaders feel that an immediate break-up will be suicidal. If we lose power right now, our condition will be worse than the Jamaat (e-Islami) workers after the Bhutto hanging in 1979, a PDP leader is quoted to have said, referring to the anti-Jamaat riots in the Valley after the hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. No one disagrees with the mood on the ground.
Several PDP leaders and Mehbooba Mufti loyalists have expressed fears of a split in the party. We know that it doesnt suit the BJP to dismiss the government and impose Governors rule. They wont break the alliance too. We have our own calculation, one of the leaders said. If they break the alliance, the BJP wont be in power in the state for a long time because they wont find partners. We apprehend they will instead split our party and continue an alliance.
The leader said the only hope is that we (PDP) manage to reclaim our narrative before a break-up with the BJP a break-up has to happen on our terms. Thats the only way we will stay in the game. Thats perhaps the only way for the entire mainstream to survive. Several PDP leaders told The Indian Express that on the ground, people including supporters feel the party has completely surrendered before the BJP.
The leader further said the PDP has decided to become more vocal on issues, start talking about self-rule, demilitarisation etc again and hope that the insistence on implementation of the agenda of alliance and situation on ground will shift before a break-up.
Another PDP leader said the current situation in Kashmir will only impact the PDP. The BJP isnt affected. In fact, they want harsher measures to control the situation because that suits them politically, the leader said, adding we are in serious trouble
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
