NC: The sinking ship *** Kashmir’s grand old party National Conference has lost its only recognizable face in south Kashmir—Dr Mahboob Beg —to opposition PDP. Beg, who was party’s nominee from Anantnag assembly seat, has not only surrendered from contest but also declared support for PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He said that he would campaign from door to door to seek votes for Mufti. What is more embarrassing for the National Conference is that Dr Beg did not leave his parent party to join the PDP. He is rather supporting Mufti despite being in National Conference. He may face ax from the NC for the betrayal but, on his own, he chose to remain in the party. There is enough scope to abuse and accuse Beg on breach of political morality but his act of infidelity cannot be dissociated from the growing political realities. National Conference is turning into a sinking ship where insecurity is staring on every face—big and small. The dread in the NC started from the top. Chief minister Omar Abdullah ran away from his family constituency Ganderbal to seek election from a far away constituency of Beerwah besides Sonawar. Even as Omar Abdullah is putting a brave face making all sorts of noises to reinvent the morale of party workers and cadres but the ground is increasingly becoming marshy for them. With the bugle for assembly elections already sounded, the NC cadres and leaders have been left without ideas as how to regain the ground. Some of the senior leaders like Shaikh Ghulam Rasool and Ajatshatru Singh have deserted the party. There are dozens other leaders and workers who are ready to say adieu to the party but have no takers. Beg’s support to Mufti from NC pedestal is reported to be rooted in PDP’s indifference to admitting Beg in the party fold. Mahboob Beg had dropped hints of joining PDP soon after he lost parliamentary election to PDP president Mahbooba Mufti in April. Mahboob Beg made scathing attack on finance minister A R Rather for his ‘partisan approach’ towards fund distribution, and ignoring south Kashmir. Beg was expecting that this could invite PDP’s attention towards him and he would call it a day for the National Conference. But much to his disappointment PDP ignored his cry, and Beg had no other choice but to remain in the NC. Several others leaders of the party were watching the PDP’s response curiously, preparing to follow Beg had the response been positive. However, the PDP’s cold shoulder to Beg disappointed him and others mulling to switch over frustratingly. PDP stunned the National Conference by snatching all the three parliamentary constituencies in the valley during recently held general elections. What has driven NC and its leadership to dumbness of sorts is that PDP maintain lead in 38 assembly segments out of valley 46 seats. PDP outsmarted National Conference in their family constituency of Ganderbal as well. NC was relegated to secondary positions in the constituencies like Chrar, Kangan, Handwara (PC was at top there), Noorabad and Kupwara as well. That made a grotesque picture of the National Conference. All its top leaders including chief minister Omar Abdullah, Dr Mustafa Kamal, Abdul Raheem Rather, Mian Altaf, Choudhar Ramzan, Saifullah Mir and Sakina Itto were left behind by PDP in their constituencies. Demoralization in the National Conference can be gauged from the fact none of senior leaders is finding it safe to retain his or her seat in assembly elections. The frustration among NC leadership has increased with contemptuous way they are held at grass root level. Party’s ailing general secretary Shaikh Nazir reportedly shouted at ministers and leaders during a meeting held to examine the reasons responsible for the party’s fall and accused them of destroying the National Conference. Since all the top leaders have lost the moral authority to do some grand talking, they humbly had to take the pie.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 01:46:22 +0000
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