While we’re talking about changing the strategy, there also needs to be a shift in terms of who is given the mandate to run for office by the political parties. The onus is on the political parties to tread carefully and only push individuals to the forefront who have a clean image, and a presentably clean face to grab the attention of the general public; those who have been making their name out of legacy may fail; the “yes-men” too, may get booted out; The traditional method of handing over the mandate to run for office must be abandoned since the environment and the overall attitude of the populace call for a more credible face that can have an impact on the ground.
Boycott is a forgotten history even the National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah termed boycotting the Panchayat election as a big mistake. Making the Assembly Election meaningful is necessary this time around in light of the fact that J&K is now a Union Territory and the fact that the restructuring of constituencies has also been finalised. This will provide relief for the people of J&K, who have gone several years without having a popularly elected government and are now at the mercy of the bureaucracy.
The political parties have a responsibility to adopt new ideas and abandon practices that were standard for them five years ago to enhance themselves and the general welfare of the populace. They must provide the conditions for a fair election that, in the end, produces beneficial results for the people, moreover, what matters is that “yes-men” must be ejected, and those who are sincere and have a good reputation to uphold are given the opportunity to advance.
