Sons And Daughters

The talking point of the elections in j&k is the battle royale between Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's daughter Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah's son Omar Abdullah. While Omar is the sitting MP from Srinagar, the former was the clp leader before she quit her assembly seat and the Congress to join her father's People's Democratic Party (PDP). The Abdullahs have always seen Srinagar as their family borough. In the '98 elections, when Omar was introduced to active politics by his father many of his critics had predicted that he would lose. But Omar, despite his spoilt-brat image and arrogance, romped home by 70,000 votes.

However, this time around the going may not be all that easy. As clp leader, Mehbooba had built a reputation of being a hardworking no-nonsense politician. And this is helping her woo voters in Srinagar where electioneering has always been a low-key affair. She is also making the right noises. The issues which figure prominently in her campaign are custodial killings, excesses by security forces and the non-functioning of the state government and corruption. She is also visiting families of militants and consoling them. Very clearly, she is speaking the language of the Hurriyat Conference while projecting herself as a major regional political leader.

Omar, on the other hand, has seen lukewarm response despite having the state machinery behind him and ministers accompanying him on his election meetings. There is a great deal of discontent with the young Abdullah's conduct after he was elected to the Lok Sabha last year. Many villagers complain that he never visited his constituency and has now come back only to seek their votes.

Indeed, the response to his campaign has been even less than lukewarm in certain places. Last week he was forced to cancel two of his election meetings in the central district of Badgam. The reason: no people. At other places, the hired crowds made up the numbers.

One problem that Omar Abdullah as well as other NC contestants are facing is the fact that their party has aligned with the bjp. The NC is no longer seen as a regional party but as one which has a truck with Hindu right-wing forces. There is also a strong anti-incumbency factor which could work against the NC candidates. The PDP, on the other hand, has a fresh ring about it as it is the first mainstream regional outfit to be launched in recent times.

As for the Congress, both the Mufti and his daughter were seen as the new face of the party. Their resignation has given a severe jolt to them in the Valley. And disgruntled Congressmen have been quick to join the PDP. That means a more involved election this time.