As Mehbooba Mufti wins Anantnag, a look back at 1996
For most people of my generation, Kashmir’s electoral politics is remembered from 1996. This was the year when polls took place after a gap of close to ten years. The last elections which had happened in 1987 were marred by major controversies.
For a lot of people it was the open rigging of 1987 elections that acted as a trigger and sent the Valley into a phase of violent unrest.
The continuous governor’s rule that followed and remained till 1996 is dotted with some of the bloodiest incidents recorded in the history of Kashmir. Many see this as a lawless period in the region.
The election season for my town of Anantnag has just finished and I am reminded of 1996.
For commoners like me living in a small town like Anantnag, the daily news would hardly trickle in. It wasn’t the time of 24x7 television or the internet. We would depend on the local newspapers which father brought home mostly after work. These would be full of items saying how separatist parties and strong militant groups had warned people from participating in the elections.
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| People were torn between insurgency and counter-insurgency. |
The atmosphere was going to be tense, so, our family decided to flee the town and head for my father's ancestral village. This was a practice we had followed several times in the past decade every time we had sensed trouble brewing.
Being in the village gave a sense of security since it had less military presence and lesser influence of the militants. But it used to be a tiring bus journey to the village, and en route were scores of check posts which added to the travel time. I, and my sister, used to hate these journeys.
This time I had bundled a few newspapers thinking it would help in passing time. A check post appeared and an armyman while checking the bus reached near us and asked me what was in the newspaper. I read out the headline and replied, “Elections are going to be held in Kashmir and our town Islamabad."
He was visibly upset for my calling Anantnag as Islamabad. My mother sensing this quickly jumped in and said, "Sir, he meant Anantnag is going for polls."
Many people had been beaten up just for using the local name of the town. Once the frisking was over many passengers told me I should never do that again. "Never say Islamabad in front of them."
Anantnag, locally, is known as Islamabad. It wasn’t anything new and perhaps had nothing to do with the conflict. We had always known the town as Islamabad even before militancy had set in. But somehow the security forces would get irked.
It was the era when reason and logic had taken a backseat. Things were difficult. People were torn between insurgency and counter-insurgency. But on that day in the bus, I realised how my own town was confused. There was confusion even its name.
I remember reading about Mehbooba Mufti on the same bus journey for the first time. The news item mentioned her as the daughter of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and the contestant from the neighbouring Bijbehara constituency.
The elections took place. Anantnag hadn’t voted much. Most of our town had decided to stay indoors. It seemed like a curfew had been imposed. But the electoral process chose a representative.
We heard about the results on the All India Radio. The bulletin also read that Mehbooba Mufti had won the Assembly election. 14 women had contested in 1996, ten of whom lost their deposits, while two were elected.
It was widely known that Mehbooba was asked by her father, Congress leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to contest since there weren’t even enough willing candidates to participate. But ever since then, Mehbooba Mufti became a name most of us heard repeatedly in Anantnag.
We would hear about her daring acts of climbing on top of buses and deliver speeches. Once or twice, whenever I have heard her in local speeches, she has always referred to Anantnag as Islamabad.
Soon Mehbooba Mufti and her father went on to add a new feature to the political identity of Anantnag. They formed the PDP which derived most of its support from south Kashmir and its nerve centre was in Anantnag.
Many felt the father-daughter duo had known the game pretty well. PDP would be seen espousing causes like healing touch, end the excesses at the hands of security forces, putting an end to the notorious special task force, talking to Pakistan, dialogue with Hurriyat.
These were the buzzwords that the PDP and its leaders were often heard repeating. And it seemed to be working.
Mehbooba Mufti had managed to create a space for her party. In Anantnag she became a household name. And this reflected in the election results in 2002 Assembly elections.
PDP was a clear hit in south Kashmir. Even though not much changed for the town of Anantnag, PDP managed to come to power. Like its name, the town continued to remain confused between the idea of development and the actual change on the ground.
In 2016, when Mufti Mohammad Syed is no more, and Mehbooba Mufti is the chief minister, Anantnag just went to by-elections.
The feeling, however, hasn’t changed much. Many thought the decision of PDP allying with the BJP will prove fatal for the party and its popularity was at test.
It may have been a low voter turn-out and one of the reasons for this could be the poll boycott call given by separatist parties.
However, the fact still remains, close to half the number of total votes went to Mehbooba Mufti. People have reposed faith again.
The onus now lies on the winner to respect the people’s mandate and make their lives better.
Let us hope the confusion gives way to clarity emanating from a good change.