In Kashmir’s poll milieu ‘A…B…C teams’ of BJP become catch-phrases ….!

Jammu: With DPAP chief Ghulam Nabi Azad’s reversal of electoral course, the scene on all important Anantnag –Rajouri seat has changed marginally. It is visibly a fight between PDP and NC, though other parties in fray will dent both of them which is why A…B…and C teams has become a catch word in statements of stalwarts.
It goes without saying that LS polls in Valley would be fought on plank of Article 370 and the two regional parties NC and PDP are expected to raise pitch against BJP during campaign in all segments across Kashmir. While much before campaign both NC and PDP have begun to indulge in BJP bashing, more than BJP both the rival parties are seen directing anger towards Sjjad Lone’s PC, Altaf Bhukhari’sApni Party and Ghulam Nabi Azad led DPAP.
They have been labelingthem as B and C teams of saffron party for apparent reasons. That BJP will stay out of battleground in Kashmir was a foregone conclusion and the party in itself was never a direct threat either to NC or PDP. However, BJP has played its cards very craftily and its ‘networking’ on the ground has been such that both NC and PDP leadership has begun to feel the heat of evident vote division strategy.
Both Omar and Mehbooba have been terming Sajjad Lone Altaf Bhukhari and DPAP as proxies of BJP which have been created to divide Kashmiri voters who hitherto had allegiance either towards NC or PDP. There is no denying the fact that if candidates of Azad and Bhukhari are not in a winning position they will surely cut the votes of Mehbooba and Mian Altaf on this seat. Azad’s decision to withdraw from contest did not come as a sudden move or sudden change of mind. He managed the whole ‘stage’ deftly.
The poll scene at least on three Kashmir seats this time therefore is not as easy and straight as it used to be earlier. Both Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba are not naive to decipher the scene which is why the catchword of B and C teams has come into use again vehemently. Azad has rejected the claims that he has ‘understanding’ with BJP and put down the accusation that other parties are ‘dancing to the tunes’ of BJP. Omar has also pointed out recent meetings of BJP’s Tarun Chugh with Lone and Bhukhari in context of what he says the saffron party has been propping up proxies against them.
However, Azad has countered by labeling both NC and PDP as ‘A’ parties of BJP arguing past associations of regional parties are self explanatory. If one party chose to remain minister in AB Vajpayee led BJP government in centre, other formed government with support of BJP MLAs in erstwhile state of J&K, he contended in an interview two days back asking them to introspect first before categorizing others in B & C teams.

Updated On 4/21/2024 3:33:06 AM

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