Omkar Dattatray
The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (now a Union Territory) is under the central rule from 2018 when the BJP withdrew support to the PDP lead coalition government of Mebooba Mufti. So the erstwhile state is being ruled by Delhi and the Jammu and Kashmir is ruled by Lieutenant Governor and the people of the disturbed former state stand orphaned as the public has no one to hear his pleadings and redress his grievances as there is no popular government in place. The LG is the centers representative and he is in charge of the government in Jammu and Kashmir and there is democratic government and the people feel alienation. Centre rule is no alternative to a democratic and popular government but it is a temporary and stop gap arrangement and therefore the centre rule cannot be carried on indefinitely and it must come to an end and pave way for a popular government to redress the peoples' problems and sufferings. Thus the popular government of the people is the right answer and it should be installed to remove the alienation of the people. So for satisfying of the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the efforts should be made for installation of the popular government. People of the disturbed Jammu and Kashmir yearn for their own government so that it can come to their rescue in the times of their need. Popular government is definitely a better form of government than the central or governor's rule and therefore it should be installed for the betterment and interest of the common masses. Therefore all the steps should be taken to install a popular government in Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore for the installation of the popular government all the necessary steps should be taken by the central government and the LG administration so that it can become a reality. Thus the much needed assembly elections which are long overdue should be held to usher in the true democracy in Jammu and Kashmir to sooth the hurt psyche and feelings of the people. The political parties of the former state and the people as well are becoming impatient and as such are demanding the holding of the assembly elections as early as possible after the winter. Therefore the central government should take the final call and declare the much needed assembly elections so that a popular government is installed in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest so that the people will heave a sigh of relief .But for the assembly elections much needed delimitation of the assembly constituencies should be made on the basis of 2011 census to pave way for the holding of the assembly elections. Thus delimitation which is the prerequisite for the holding of the elections should be carried to its logical conclusion so that the much over due assembly elections are held to give the people of Jammu and Kashmir their own democratic government. So the delimitation of the assembly constituencies should be completed in order to hold the elections in the union territory in order to mitigate the sufferings of the people. All the political parties regional as well as the national are demanding early elections of the assembly so that the people will elect a government of their choice .The various political parties have started the political tours to different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and have in fact commenced the political process and they are meeting the people and making the ground fertile for the assembly elections .As a matter of fact the political parties and the people of union territory are in favour of the early elections so that a peoples government will be in place very soon to give some relief to the disgruntled people. Now that the political parties and the general people are demanding the early elections so the central government should order holding of the assembly elections to the UT assembly in order to provide the opportunity to the people to chose their own government .Therefore for the interest of the general public the much needed assembly elections should be held to usher in true democracy in Jammu and Kashmir .Some political parties demand the restoration of the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before the assembly elections and are making it the precondition for holding and taking part in the elections. The fact is that the assembly elections and the restoration of the statehood are two different things and subjects and it should not be made a necessary condition for holding of the elections. The home minister Amit Shah has made it clear that the process to restore the statehood will be initiated after the assembly elections and therefore there should be no confusion and misunderstanding on this account. The regional political parties should show flexibility and not insist for the restoration of the statehood before the elections and instead they should ready for jumping in the election fray when the assembly elections are held. The popular government can only be a reality when the assembly elections are held to give the people their right to elect their representatives otherwise not. Therefore without any reservation and inhibition the much over due assembly elections should be held to pave way for the electing a government of their choice at the earliest. The political parties – regional as well as the national and the central government should shun their rigidity and make ground ready for the holding of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. As said at the outset that central or governor's rule is no alternative to a popular government and so all efforts should be made by the stakeholders for the early assembly elections so that a democratic government is installed in Jammu and Kashmir to address the problems of the people. Therefore if the political parties especially the regional are sincere in demanding the restoration of the statehood they should readily take part in the assembly elections when these are held and should forcefully demand the early assembly elections as it is only after the assembly elections that the process to initiate the statehood can begin. The popular government is the need of the hour and all the political parties and the central government and the LG administration as well as the common citizens should sincerely work towards making a conducive atmosphere for the holding of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. It should be appreciated by the political parties, central government, LG administration as well as the general people that the atmosphere is good for the conduct of the elections and therefore all the political parties regional as well as the national should take part in the elections when it will be declared by the election commission of India .In short for the installation of the popular government the assembly elections are mandatory and thus the assembly elections should be held for the electing of the popular government in Jammu and Kashmir .The sooner it is done the better. Let the dream of popular government be realized for the interest of the people and the nation.
(The author is retired education officer and columnist)
