Gupkar alliance talks statehood before polls, to reach out to other parties

SRINAGAR: The five-party People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has decided to engage with other parties in J&K to jointly pitch for restoration of statehood as a precursor to assembly elections, charting the course of what could be a long and rocky road to delimitation of constituencies and restoration of democracy in the Union Territory.
In another confusing signal, the alliance announced after a meeting at Srinagar MP Farooq Abdullah's residence late on Sunday that each of the constituents would decide on its own whether to participate in the delimitation exercise. Barring former CM Mehbooba Mufti's PDP, all the other parties in the PAGD — including National Conference — are likely to be a part of the process despite appearing to set a precondition to elections, sources said.
PAGD's chief spokesperson and CPM central committee member Yousuf Tarigami expressed dismay over the outcome of the June 24 all-party meet with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi, although none of the participants apparently broached the topic of restoration of J&K's special status during the dialogue.
"As far as restoration of statehood is concerned, it has been BJP's commitment on the floor of Parliament, and they must honour their word. So, any assembly election must be held only after restoration of full statehood for J&K," the alliance said in a formal statement. "To this end, the PAGD has decided to reach out to other political parties with a view to take a common position on the issue."
The alliance also reiterated its commitment to fight for reversal of the "unconstitutional and unacceptable" changes foisted on the people of J&K on August 5, 2019. It said the constituents would use all constitutional, legal and political means at their disposal to fulfil this objective.
On what exactly went wrong at the dialogue with the PM, Tarigami pointed to "the absence of any substantial confidence-building measures such as releasing political and other prisoners from jails and taking concrete steps to end the siege and atmosphere of suppression that has choked J&K since 2019".
"This (release of detainees) would have initiated the much-needed process of reaching out to the people of J&K, who are the biggest stakeholders and sufferers," he said.
PAGD's decision to allow its constituents to individually take a call on the delimitation exercise comes close on the heels of the National Conference brass holding multiple meetings over the weekend to decide what to do. Party insiders said there was a consensus among the top rung on joining the delimitation process, which will be conducted on the basis of the 2011 census.
Headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, the Delimitation Commission has several members representing various parties, including Farooq and NC MPs Masood Husinan and Akbar Lone.
The commission and the additional electoral officer have invited all parties on July 6 to simultaneous meetings in Srinagar and Jammu on increasing assembly and parliamentary seats in accordance with the 2011 census. The commission will separately meet members of social organisations.