The bypoll has a lot in store for Kashmir

There is no suspense on the outcome of the June 22 by-election, the results of which would be known on Saturday. But what would matter are the votes polled chief

There is no suspense on the outcome of the June 22 by-election, the results of which would be known on Saturday. But what would matter are the votes polled chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and her victory margin, for, that would be a real show of her performance against the backdrop of the alliance of her party, the PDP, with the BJP.

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As the daughter of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who died in January, there would have been a lot of sympathy for her. But the sympathy is being put to the test now. The political and psychological backdrop to this election has made it a matter of national attention. Her party, the PDP, is an ally of the BJP, which is a tricky thing for her. She is aware of this and knows what kind of contest she has entered into, and why it is important for her to win. The real issue is to legitimise what her father did by partnering the BJP last year, but at the same time keeping the doors open for dialogue with Pakistan. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s crediting Pakistan for the successful assembly elections did not please the BJP. One of the reasons for the delay in the flood relief package for Kashmir was thought to be this.

In the political strategy of Mehbooba, although friendship with Pakistan is a political, diplomatic, geographical necessity for Jammu and Kashmir, she has chosen to differentiate between the two, both historically and in the context of the 21st century world. She has extensively mentioned Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who had endorsed the state’s accession to India. That takes care of her party’s alliance with the BJP. It also seeks to justify the “difficult decision” of her father to join hands with the BJP.

“We respected the mandate of Jammu (the region had given 25 out of the 37 seats to the BJP). How could we ignore one entire region,” she asked in almost the same style in which her father used to talk about these issues. This is not convincing for her opponents, who are saying that she is an “RSS gudiya”. The critics are focusing less on the BJP and more on the RSS. Both the National Conference and the Congress are singing the same tune. “She takes dictation from the RSS headquarters and has no love for Kashmiris” — this is how the Congress’ state chief, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, is running the campaign against her. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah is equally harsh. Kashmiri separatists have given a call for boycotting the polls.

This is what makes this contest extraordinary for Mehbooba. She is seeking victory to prove that her alliance with the BJP was a political necessity and for starting a new development era for the young generation in the Valley.

Binoo Joshi is a political journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir. The views expressed are personal.