Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s call for a ‘grand alliance’ with the coalition partner Congress for the upcoming Assembly elections was dubbed as an addition to the list of his political immaturities, but months later it has led to an internal deflection in the grand old party. However, political analysts here believe that the division within the Congress may not help Omar’s National Conference (NC), but principal Opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sources in state Congress say that in order to thwart any attempt to have a future alliance with the NC, a ‘third front’ has been formed. “This third front recently met at the residence of senior leader Gulchain Singh Chadak at his residence in New Delhi,” sources added. Among those who attended the meeting were Abdul Gani Wakil, Suman Bhagat, Jugal Kishor and Madal Lal Sharma.
Chadak confirmed reports about the meeting, saying: “State Congress leaders don’t want any alliance with NC and there is a growing feeling that Omar’s party is hell-bent to tarnish the image of our party in the state.” The senior leader, while admitting that the leaders had met at his residence, however, refuted the formation of the ‘third front.’
A senior Congress leader and former minister, who was present in the meeting, however, confirmed the formation of third front and said it “will work on the pattern of Azad and Soz group, but will have a distinct identity”. “Senior Congress leaders are being ignored. Factionalism has marred the party. Saifudin Soz and Ghulam Nabi Azad groups are hell-bent to tarnish the image of the Congress in the state, and in a way these groups have brought the party on the verge of extinction in Jammu and Kashmir,” he accused. “Our group will start functioning after a week and will pursue party agenda in letter and spirit,” he said, adding, “the third front will bring all the leaders under one roof in the state.”
Chadak, who is Punjab Congress in-charge, admitted that lobbies supported by Soz—the Pradesh Congress head, and Azad are proving counterproductive for the Congress in the state. However, Soz rubbishes the claim. Lashing at those Congress leaders who have formed the third front he said: “Those who have been rejected by Congress are mulling to form third front, but they have no identity and their front will not work.”
But, the coalition partner NC sees a conspiracy behind the formation of this group. Accusing Congress of creating a pressure group, senior NC leader, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal said Soz has termed the leaders associated with ‘so-called’ third front as rejected lot, but the feeling is that this is a pressure group created by them to oppose the policies and moves of his party.
A political analyst said: “One of the gluing factors for this group is an end to the alliance with the NC and with the elections slated next year, and it could create an impediment in the formation of Omar’s grand alliance.”
A professor at University of Kashmir felt, “The PDP is seriously pushing in to regions in Jammu dominated by Muslims and the factional fighting in the Congress may prove really helpful.”
However while talking to The Sunday Standard, PDP Spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said, “Our party has always carried positive agenda, we don’t depend upon Congress,” and downplayed the rift within Congress.
The Sunday Standard