“Vocal For Local”
Local polls mark restart of political process in J&K, which should soon return to statehood (राज्य/राज्यत्व; the status of being a recognized independent state or nation)
The first District Development Council polls in Jammu and Kashmir had rivals (प्रतिद्वंद्वी; a person, group, etc. competing with others for the same thing), National Conference, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Conference, coming together on one platform, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration.
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The six-party platform consolidated (संघटित/मजबूत करना; to combine in order to create a more simple or stronger) votes in nine out of 10 districts in the Kashmir Valley and three districts of the Pir Panjal valley and the Chenab valley in the Jammu region. The alliance (गठबंधन/संधि; a group of political parties, or people who have agreed to work together because of shared interests or aims) has won 110 seats out of a total of 280 seats and the BJP, with 75 seats has emerged as the single largest party. The Gupkar alliance and the Congress are likely to have their chairmen in 12 to 13 districts in J&K, out of a total of 20, and the BJP could be leading five to six.
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Independent winners, 50 of them, will be able to swing (बदलना; to change) some districts in favour of the BJP or the Alliance. The Alliance sees the poll results as a verdict (निर्णय; an opinion or decision made after judging the facts that are given) against the reorganisation of J&K into two Union Territories and revocation (रद्दीकरण/रद्द करना; the act of saying officially that an agreement, law, etc. is no longer in effect) of its special constitutional status on August 5, 2019.
This was the first electoral process after the Centre ended J&K’s special status, and the alliance had pledged (वादा/प्रतिज्ञा करना; to make a serious or formal promise to do something) to fight for its restoration. The fears of the regional parties that the polls may be rigged (धांधली; to arrange an event or amount in a dishonest way) were allayed (कम/शांत करना; to make a problem or negative emotion less difficult) by the final results.
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However, the withdrawal of security to leaders and candidates of the Gupkar alliance and restrictions on their campaigning had raised concerns about the process.
The sudden moves against Valley-based politicians in the Roshni land ‘scam’, cricket scam and other cases by the Enforcement Directorate, and the arrest of PDP leader Waheedur Rehmaan Parra, just days after he filed his nomination, all amounted to (जोड़ना/कुल/बराबर होना; to add up to, be in total, be equal to) undesirable use of the state machinery (प्रशासन; the structure and systems of an organization or a state) with a political intent.
The polls, however, came to be seen as the restoration of the democratic process in J&K, which saw arrests of most regional leaders last year and the suspension of political activities to a large extent. These polls also stand out (अलग दिखना/महत्वपूर्ण होना; to be very noticeable or much better than other similar things) for being a rare electoral process in the past 30 years where the militant outfits (उग्रवादी संगठन; an organization, military unit, etc. often willing to use force) and the separatist groups (अलगाववादी समूह; a group who supports an effort to become independent of the country) did not campaign vigorously (सख्ती से; in a way that is very forceful or energetic) for a poll boycott (बहिष्कार करना; to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval).
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Frequent encounters and locals joining militancy (उग्रवाद;the fact of being determine and willing to use force) in the past one year in south Kashmir did impact the turnout (à¤ीड़/जमावड़ा; the number of people who are present at an event, especially who go to vote in an election), where most segments (क्षेत्र/खंड; any of the parts into which something is divided) saw less than 20%. The BJP, which had already made inroads (पैठ/पकड़ बनाना; to make direct and noticeable effects on something) during the previous panchayat and urban local bodies polls in 2018 when the regional parties boycotted, managed a win over three seats in Srinagar, Bandipora and Pulwama.
The low turnout notwithstanding (के बावजूद/ फिर à¤ी; despite the fact), this comes as a shot in the arm for the image of the party. The BJP has also maintained a tight grip in Samba, Udhampur, Jammu and Kathua in the Jammu region. The political process restarted through the DDC election must be given more space.
The Centre must appreciate the role of regional parties in moving towards peace and stability in J&K. Restoration of statehood and holding of the Assembly election are vital.
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