The course of the state, and an answer to its most pressing problems, would most likely be determined by the leader of any of the three main political parties: the NC, the PDP and the Congress. Here is a profile of the chief ministerial candidates of the 3 parties, and some of the other important political players.
Farooq Abdullah
Farooq Abdullah, who has been a leading figure in Kashmir politics since the early 1980s, was recently declared the Chief Ministerial candidate of the National Conference (NC). Announcing the decision, Farooq’s son and NC president Omar Abdullah said that under the able leadership of his father his party will come out victorious in this year`s election and seize power in the state.
Farooq Abdullah is son and heir to Sheikh Abdullah, the nationalist Kashmiri leader who is also known for his crusade to end feudalist Dogra rule in Kashmir during the 1930s and 40s.
However, Farooq Abdullah, who served the state as the Chief Minister between 1982 and 1984, has a reputation different from his father. He came under the scanner over allegations of corruption during his tenure as the Chief Minister. He earned the image of a playboy during the 1980s and 90s because of his lavish lifestyle and large number of female friends .
He was controversially dismissed by Governor Jagmohan in 1984 but staged a comeback in 1986 as part of an intricate deal that saw an alliance between Congress (I) and his National Conference party.
Farooq won the state assembly elections in 1987, but the results were contested by the Muslim United Front, a separatist alliance that claimed it had been cheated of many seats through rigging. The Valley slid into violence from 1988, and in January 1990 Farooq Abdullah resigned when New Delhi appointed Jagmohan as Governor once again.
He spent much of the intervening time in London. In September 1996 Farooq returned to power when fresh state assembly elections were held. Farooq Abdullah is known for his excellent oratory skills.
Ghulam Nabi Azad
Born on March 7, 1949 in Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad is one of the most prominent Congress politicians to represent the state.
He served as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister of India in the Manmohan Singh government until Nov 2005, after which he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
He has played a crucial role in his party’s significant victories in assembly elections held in several key states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Known for his excellent organisational skills and cordial relations with the rank and file of the party, he has also earned the nickname of the “Crisis Manager”.
The suave politician, who is known for his gentle approach towards complicated issues, was instrumental in his party’s surprising victory in the 2002 Assembly election in J&K.
Azad has been the AICC general secretary for a record nine times and member of the powerful Congress Working Committee for 18 years, perhaps the longest period among the current leaders.
As a Union minister, he steered successive Congress governments to victory in 21 no-confidence motions including the minority government of P. V. Narasimha Rao in the early 1990s.
Azad`s first political assignment was the Block Congress Committee secretary in Bahlesa in Jammu and Kashmir`s Doda district, his native place.
In 1980, he was appointed as the President of the All India Youth Congress, the first from the minority community.
After being elected to the Seventh Lok Sabha from Maharashtra`s Washim (Lok Sabha constituency) in 1980, Azad entered into the Central government as Deputy Minister in-charge of Law, Justice and Company Affairs Ministry in 1982.
Subsequently, he was elected to the Eighth Lok Sabha in 1984 and became a Rajya Sabha member in 1990. During Rao`s government, Azad took charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Civil Aviation ministries.
In June 2008, Azad`s government announced plans to transfer land to the Amarnath Shrine Board. However, the decision angered majority Muslims in the state and triggered violent protests. Deteriorating situation forced the government to cancel the transfer. But the reversal provoked Hindus and at least seven people were reportedly killed in violence that accompanied these protests.
The People`s Democratic Party, a coalition partner of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, withdrew its support from the government.
Azad’s resignation on July 7, this year brought the state under the President’s Rule.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
Born on January 12, 1936, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from November 2002 to 2005. He is the founder and patron of the People`s Democratic Party (PDP), which was launched in July 1999 to "persuade New Delhi to initiate an unconditional dialogue with Kashmiris" for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem.
He has previously been a member of the Congress party. He is said to have brought about the downfall of the Farooq Abdullah led National Conference government of Jammu and Kashmir in 1984. In 1987, he quit the Congress to join V P Singh`s Janta Dal, which led to his becoming the first Muslim Home Minister of India in 1989. His daughter Rubaiya was kidnapped by militants within few days of his taking office. She was released in exchange for the release of some militants.
He rejoined the Congress under P V Narasimha Rao which he left in 1999 along with his other daughter Mehbooba Mufti to form his own party, People`s Democratic Party.
The PDP recently released a document on the “Self-Rule,” for resolving the highly vexed Kashmir conflict. Political restructuring, economic integration between the two parts of Kashmir, demilitarisation and constitutional restructuring within the Indian Constitution are the highlights of the new vision.
The 40-page document, demands that Article 356, which gives the
President the authority to dismiss a state government should not be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. It also demands that the Governor of the state be elected on rotation from the Valley and Jammu.
He has survived several attacks on his life by militants over the years.
Other key players
Mebooba Mufti
A leading figure in the relatively new People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti is unusual figure in Kashmir – a female politician. While she has previously met with little political success, perhaps due to her father Mufti Mohd Sayeed’s unfortunate legacy as Indian Home Minister in 1989, she has just made a strong showing in the 2002 Kashmir state assembly elections - and the PDP has become the main party in the Kashmir Valley.
Her campaign in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections was an interesting one. Her party used the same symbols as the Muslim United Front did in their 1987 election campaign for self-determination, but arguing that the symbols used to bring the gun into Kashmir should be used to get the gun out. She has campaigned for unconditional talks with militants and an end to human rights abuses, giving her some credibility with Kashmiris. At the same time, by participating in elections, she has shown herself and the PDP to be part of the Indian political fabric.
Compiled by Ritesh K Srivastav
