Political rivals of the Jamaat and the AIP hinted at a “behind the scenes” conspiracy in the alliance.
In a significant development, the banned Jamaat-e-Islami and Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) have stitched a “strategic” alliance for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The tie-up, which comes just two days ahead of the first phase of polls, materialised during a meeting of Rashid and Ghulam Qadir Wani, chief of the eight-member Jamaat panel that has engaged in talks with the Centre and declared its intention to contest the elections.
Shameem Ahmad Thoker, the chief election in-charge of the Jamaat, confirmed that the two parties have allied for the assembly polls.
The banned outfit has fielded nine candidates as Independents across the Kashmir valley, and announced that it would back Ajaz Ahmad Mir, an Independent candidate from Zainapora. Mir, a former PDP legislator, decided to go it alone after being denied a ticket by his party.
Rashid’s AIP, on the other hand, has fielded 34 candidates – 33 in the Valley and one in Jammu. Since the Awami Ittehad Party is not registered with the Election Commission, its candidates are also contesting as Independents.
“This collaboration marks a significant step towards achieving a united front in the pursuit of peace, justice, and political empowerment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” said an official by the AIP. “Both parties underscored the importance of unity in resolving the Kashmir issue and promoting a lasting and dignified peace in the region, highlighted the rapidly evolving political landscape, both regionally and internationally, and stressed that neither JEI nor AIP can afford to remain passive observers.”
While AIP will back Jamaat candidates in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Kulgam, the Jamaat will back the AIP candidates across Kashmir.
“In areas where both AIP and JEI have fielded candidates, the alliance has agreed to a ‘friendly contest’,” particularly in constituencies like Langate, Devsar and Zainapora, the official release said. “In other constituencies, mutual support will be extended to ensure a unified approach to the elections.”
The last minute alliance between two parties could alter the poll dynamics in the Valley, but is unlikely to have a major impact. While there has been discomfiture within the Jamaat over its leadership’s decision to contest the elections, the alliance could lead to a split in the socio-religious outfit, which has been battling a credibility crisis – both within and outside.
A former Jamaat leader told The Indian Express that decisions taken by the panel have already created fissures within the party that saw a division in 2004, when Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Shah Geelani parted ways from the Jamaat to form the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
“It has been almost two decades since Jamaat saw an internal division. It officially started in 1997 when Bhat sahib (the Jamaat chief) dissociated Jamaat from militancy,” he said. “The panel is the extension of the same group and decisions taken by it don’t have the stamp from the ground workers. This latest decision to join hands with Rashid is unlikely to go down well with the cadre and may deepen the fissures.”
Tha Jamaat and the AIP have asked their workers to “spread the message of support for each other’s candidates, in line with the agreement”.
“The goal is to secure a resounding victory for AIP and JEI candidates, ensuring that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have strong representatives who can articulate their sentiments and aspirations,” the AIP release said.
Political rivals of the Jamaat and the AIP hinted at a “behind the scenes” conspiracy in the alliance.
“Nobody knows how this is happening. On the face of it, it seems like an abnormal activity promoted by some forces,” senior PDP leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar told The Indian Express. “The people can be misled for some time but they will eventually know everybody’s truth. This (alliance) is neither in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir nor democracy.”
He said the two parties have not made public what they agreed or disagreed on. “Do it publically by announcing it as we did with the BJP through an Agenda of Alliance or with Congress through the Common Minimum Programme,” he said. “They have not made public what the terms of engagement are between them and the government.” Source
