Acid test for ruling PDP-BJP coalition in Kashmir bypolls

THE BYPOLLS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE NC AND THE CONGRESS, WHICH HAVE COME TOGETHER AGAIN AFTER A BITTER SPLIT IN THE RUNUP TO THE LAST ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER 2014

NEW DELHI : The by-elections to two Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir next month will not only be an appraisal of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)-BJP alliance in the state but also a test of popularity of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The by-polls are also important for the National Conference (NC) and the Congress which have come together yet again after a bitter split in the run-up to the last assembly elections in December 2014.

National Conference president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah is the alliance’s candidate from Srinagar and faces a challenge from PDP’s Nazir Ahmad Khan.

From Anantnag, the PDP has fielded Mehbooba’s brother Tassaduq Mufti who is pitted against state Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

Cinematographer Tassaduq, 45, had joined active politics and the PDP in January 7 on the first death anniversary of his father and late chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Coming after months of widespread unrest in Kashmir in the second half of last year that left close a hundred people dead in clashes between protesters and security forces and scores with serious eye injuries due to the use of pellet guns following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, the by-elections will determine the success of the PDP-BJP alliance.

Much is at stake for Mehbooba, 56, who took over as the first woman chief minister of the Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir on April 4 last year after three months of renewed negotiations with the BJP following her father’s death.

She has been at the receiving end of both the mainstream politicians and separatists for her “inept handling” of the situation after Burhan’s killing.