Coalition Government of PDP and BJP Formation of Government and Their Common Minimum Program in Jammu and Kashmir
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International Journal for Social Studies ISSN: 2455-3220 Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 02 Issue 02 February 2016 Coalition Government of PDP and BJP formation of government and Their Common Minimum Program in Jammu and Kashmir Mohd Abass Bhat Research Scholar Political Science Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya Indore (M.P) Email id: [email protected] ABSTRACT The present research paper attempts at independent representatives form a the understanding of the system of coalition government. and an evaluation of its implications for The coalition government in Jammu and society. Coalition politics is based on a Kashmir during 2014 Assembly elections, system of governance by a group of political generally acknowledged to be fair, and parties or by several political parties. When helped build some kind of confidence in the several political parties collaborate to form electoral institutions and processes. Till a government and exercise the political now, the formation of government and its power on the basis of a common agreed sustenance in power was more dependent on programme/agenda we can describe such a the support of the Centre rather than the system as coalition politics or coalition mandate of people. The electoral politics government. Such a government is usually therefore was quite distanced from the organized when no party is in a position to popular responses. Breaking the hegemony get a majority in the parliament or state of the single dominant party also brought an legislature and some parties form a alternative to the PDP-BJP coalition power. coalition group or an alliance and thus The reality on the ground, even if complex forms a government. A coalition government and complicated, needs to be faced is a collaborative or cooperative effort, in politically not numerically. That is the real which several political parties or some challenge the PDP and the BJP have political parties in association with some decided to bring together their common minimum program, political initiatives and Available online: www.edupediapublications.org/journals P a g e | 62 International Journal for Social Studies ISSN: 2455-3220 Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 02 Issue 02 February 2016 legislative resources to convert this complex Instead of being judgmental about these challenge into an opportunity. electoral results, the PDP and the BJP have made efforts to understand the verdict in all KEY WORDS: People’s Democratic Party, its complexity. Both parties have agreed on Bharatiya Janata Party, Coalition, Jammu a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and Kashmir, Elections, Government, for the state. Here is the full text of the Common Minimum Program etc Common Minimum Programme. This document set out the Agenda of the INTRODUCTION Alliance between the J&K People’s The term coalition is derived from the Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Latin word coalition which is the verbal Janata Party (BJP). It will be the guiding substantive of coalesce co-together and framework for governance of the coalition alesere to grow up which means to go or to government in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) for grow together. According to the Oxford the next six years. English dictionary, ‘the word coalition means an alliance for combined action of OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY distinct parties’ persons or state without To realize this goal that Jammu and permanent incorporation into one body. Kashmir People’s Democratic Party calls for In the recently concluded J&K State very specific action that must be taken and assembly elections, 2014, the people of the standard that must be set. State have voted overwhelmingly and in To examine the Common Minimum favour of the democratic system. This shows Programme policy. a growing recognition and acceptance among people that participating in the free METHODOLOGY and fair electoral process is the only option. The present study makes an attempt to The results of these elections have been examine the coalition government in Jammu judged as fractured and indecisive by and Kashmir during 2014. This study is everyone. The reality is that it is not the based on secondary sources of data which mandate of political parties that is fractured; includes, Assembly debates, Daily News it is the polity of J&K that is fractured. Papers, Internet, Manuals, Periodicals and Available online: www.edupediapublications.org/journals P a g e | 63 International Journal for Social Studies ISSN: 2455-3220 Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 02 Issue 02 February 2016 Articles published in Journals etc. Hence this study is based on the Descriptive and BOYCOTT CALLS Historical approach. Hardline separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah BACKGROUND AND CAMPAIGN Geelani had appealed to people of Kashmir The Jammu and Kashmir to boycott the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election, 2014 was Legislative Assembly elections completely, held in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir arguing that "India has been holding in five phases from November 25 to elections in the Valley using the power of December 20, 2014. Voters elected 87 gun and so such an exercise is not members to the Jammu and Kashmir legitimate." He added, “My appeal to the Legislative Assembly, which ends its six- youth in particular is that the sacrifices year term on January 19, 2015. The results rendered by the people must be safeguarded were declared on December 23, 2014. and, hence, in no way should vote during Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) elections.” along with EVMs was used in 3 assembly Separatists were propagating the poll seats out of 87 in Jammu Kashmir elections. boycott campaign through video clips on Before the election„ Indian National social networking sites and applications, Congress broke its alliance with Jammu and including Face book and Whats App. Kashmir National Conference and contested A four-minute video clip has gone on all seats in the assembly. Campaigning viral on social sites with messages of before the elections was aggressive and chairmen of both hardline and moderate robust. Following the huge victory of factions of Hurriyat Conference and Bharatiya Janata Party in the Indian Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi. parliamentary election, the BJP turned its The video message sent through WhatsApp attention towards J&K and campaigned on and shared on Face book and Twitter asked the promise of 'development'. This included the people to boycott the coming polls. a visit from the Prime Minister of India, Video also showed Hurriyat hawk Narendra Modi in support of the local BJP Syed Ali Shah Geelani addressing a campaign. Available online: www.edupediapublications.org/journals P a g e | 64 International Journal for Social Studies ISSN: 2455-3220 Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 02 Issue 02 February 2016 gathering via phone urging youth not to undermine the mission of ‘martyrs’. VOTING Moderate Hurriyat chairman The polls were carried out in five Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is seen posing for phases. Despite several boycott calls by the camera with the appeal those polls Hurriyat leaders, elections recorded highest must be boycotted ‘en masse’. voter’s turnout in last 25 years. Voter’s turnout was more than 65% which is higher than usual voting percentage in other states of India. Date Seats Turnout 25 November 2014 15 71.28% 2 December 2014 18 71% 9 December 2014 16 58.89% 14 December 2014 18 49% 20 December 2014 20 76% Total 87 65.23% Source: Electoral Commission of India Voting 25-Nov-14 22% 14-Dec-14 27% 02-Dec-14 09-Dec-14 27% 24% Available online: www.edupediapublications.org/journals P a g e | 65 International Journal for Social Studies ISSN: 2455-3220 Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 02 Issue 02 February 2016 The European Parliament on the behalf Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti of European Union welcomed the smooth Muhammad Sayeed said, "If God forbid the conduct of the State Legislative Elections in Hurriyat and the militants tried to disrupt the the Jammu and Kashmir. The EU in its elections these would not have been as message said that, "The high voter turnout participative as they had been. They figure proves that democracy is firmly (Pakistan) also allowed these elections to rooted in India. The EU would like to take place." Ruling Party president congratulate India and its democratic system Mehbooba Mufti also defended Mufti's for conduct of fair elections, unmarred by remarks while taking dig at Mufti's violence, in the state of Jammu and statement former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir". The European Parliament also and Kashmir and leader of opposition in takes cognizance of the fact that a large Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said that, number of Kashmiri voters turned out "In fact, Pakistan and militant groups tried despite calls for the boycott of elections by their best to destabilise the democratic certain separatist forces. However, elected process in the state. Summary of the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly election results 2014. Vote Party Flag Seats Previously +/– Vote % Share 28 21 +7 22.7% 10,92,203 People's Democratic Party. 25 11 +14 23.0% 11,07,194 Bharatiya Janata Party. 15 28 -13 20.8% 10,00,693 National Conference. 12 17 -5 18.0% 8,67,883 Indian National Congress. Jammu & Kashmir People's 0 0 Conference. Available online: www.edupediapublications.org/journals P a g e | 66 International Journal for Social Studies ISSN: 2455-3220 Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 02 Issue 02 February 2016 1 1 0 0.5% Communist Party of India (Marxist). Jammu and Kashmir People's 0 0 Democratic Front. 3 Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party. People's Democratic Front. 1 1 - - Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Party 1 % Nationalist. Independents. 4 11 % Total (turnout 65.23%) 87 87 - - Source: Electoral Commission of India PDP became the single largest party with 28 3.