ROTATIONAL CM: BJP’s multi-edged Brahmastra

Dost Khan

As Kashmir is refusing to steer out of self-inflicted morass, rumours are rife about rotational Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir. Even the names of incumbent(s) for replacing Mehbooba Mufti are under circulation. A section of the BJP is busy in sending out euphoric and victorious signals. Indeed, it is a calculated but profusely awkward move by the BJP to wriggle out PDP-BJP dispensation from the crisis like situation they have brought the State into.
For sure, Jammu and Kashmir is not going to have a dream Hindu Chief Minister ever from this side of Banihal. The State is going to be ruled by Kashmir centric Muslim Chief Ministers and the opportunistic Jammu leadership will continue to play second fiddle roles happily and obediently. This being the harsh truth, what made the BJP to play rotational Chief Minister card at this crucial juncture when terrorists are calling shots, Pakistan is shelling at will, separatists are getting more emboldened and mainstream politicians are dancing at the tunes of anti-national elements.
Situation in Kashmir is quite precarious. The Centre has no clue how to deal with the turbulent situation. The PDP-BJP dispensation has miserably failed to provide a semblance of governance. So, what is the recourse?
Those familiar with Kashmir know well how its leadership plays dual roles that mostly lead to irreparable crisis. In 1990, Dr Farooq Abdullah abdicated his constitutional responsibility as Chief Minister and ran away for good six years. In 2008, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed pulled the rug from under the feet of Ghulam Nabi Azad. Consequentially, the Centre was left with no option but to impose Governor’s Rule both the times. And to surprise of many, the gubernatorial dispensations delivered well in terms of restoring normalcy and making the wheels of administration move to comparatively higher level of public satisfaction. Therefore, this point of time as well, the Centre is left with no option but to put the Legislative Assembly under suspended animation and impose Governor’s Rule. This being the exigency, due to most volatile nature of the situation, the BJP at the Centre is now scripting a preface to do away with the Mehbooba Mufti led government. The rumour about rotational Chief Minister is a part of the story line. It is, in fact,  a Brahamastra to hide failure of the BJP’s experiment of forming government in partnership with the PDP; to provoke and provide face-saver to the PDP to make an outcry over the rotational Chief Minister and pull out from the alliance, and to keep its highest ever number in the Legislative Assembly intact.
The BJP’s story-line, crafted carefully and cleverly with approval of the PDP, will roll out soon to pave the way for imposition of Governor’s Rule that has become overdue given fast deteriorating situation. Kashmir is witnessing total anarchy. Stone pelters have temporarily taken off to leave the turf to students, both boys and girls, which is being conceived as a part of civil disobedience. This is a scenario that has all the potential to ring alarm bells in the Centre, especially as the annual Amarnathji Yatra is nearing and the tourism season in Kashmir is slipping away. Further deterioration in the situation could prove suicidal. Therefore, the bogey of the rotational Chief Minister!
Since the BJP has let the cat out of the bag, it is for the PDP to carry forward rest of the story. Obviously, they will cry foul and try to make out a case against the Centre. The PDP will also come out with a conspiracy theory, saying New Delhi has never been sincere to Kashmiris.
They will go whole hog with the theory of subjugation of Kashmiris. Once out of the government, Kashmir will again see the drama which National Conference is already enacting. However, this game is fraught with the danger of separatists and so-called mainstream parties seen together on the other side of the fence. Though both have lost relevance in the most radicalised Kashmir yet shrinking of political space will give leverage to anarchical elements, who have taken centre-stage in the Valley. This is a most tricky situation, which will have to be tackled firmly under the Governor’s Rule, lest the anarchical elements get further emboldened. For a change, the BJP will have to keep national interest above politics in the Valley.