Srinagar, Sep 3 (IANS) In a major change in its policies, the Jamaat-e-Islami organisation on Tuesday officially announced its support to an independent candidate, joining the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir after 37 years.
The Jamaat last contested assembly elections in 1987 in alliance with like-minded political parties under the banner of Muslim United Front (MUF). Since then, the Jamaat has boycotted elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, in 1989, the state was hit by separatist violence.
The Jamaat today officially extended its support to an independent candidate, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, in the Zainapora Assembly constituency of Shopian district.
Senior Jamaat member Shamim Ahmad Thokar told some journalists that the organisation has officially extended support to independent candidate Aijaz Ahmad Mir in Zainapora constituency.
Jamaat’s decision represents a major shift in the policy of the religio-political organisation and its re-entry into electoral politics is expected to change the fundamental dynamics of electoral politics in Kashmir.
Jamaat leaders have contested assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir before. Senior Jamaat leader Syed Ali Geelani, who later became an ideologue of separatism in Kashmir, has represented the Sopore assembly seat in north Kashmir twice.
After Geelani became the ideologue of separatism in Kashmir, Sopore also became a centre of anti-India sentiment in the valley.
Whatever be the final outcome of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, there is no doubt that the Jamaat is a very strong cadre-based organisation.
If the current ban on the organisation is lifted, and once the Jamaat decides to contest assembly elections directly, traditional political parties like the National Conference (NC), Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will face a tough opponent.
It is a common perception that the Jamaat has supported separatism in the past. But there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents the Jamaat from participating in electoral politics if the Home Ministry lifts the ban on the organisation.
A senior Jamaat supporter, speaking on condition of anonymity, refuted a recent statement by National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah in which the former chief minister had said that the change in ideology in Jamaat politics was evident from the fact that it had decided to support former Jamaat members in the elections.
–IANS
AKJ/
