Hyderabad: The District Development Council (DDC) election results have thrown up surprises in the valley as several independent candidates without the Patronage of parties have registered wins.
Political analyst Sangit Kumar Ragi observes that this is real democracy at play in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Real democracy is happening in Kashmir, many leaders are emerging from the grassroots," said Ragi.
On how the Gupkar alliance is faring, Ragi said, "Gupkar alliance realised that they will be wiped out if they don't take part in the elections."
He also mentioned that the parties in the alliance were not mainstream parties but dynastic organisations.
These organisation never allowed grassroots democracy to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, "One party has a daughter taking the baton from the father while the other has the father handing over the baton to the son."
Ragi also mentioned that the traditional parties of the union territory build anti-India rhetoric.
He said, "I find the PDP cancerous for Jammu and Kashmir as well as the country."
Ragi mentions the elections of 1987 as a turning point in the valley. The rigged nature of the elections to prop-up the national conference by the congress led to people crossing the border towards Pakistan and became militants fighting the Indian State.
"People lost faith in the elections then as it was rigged but now grassroots democracy is being strengthened," said Ragi.
Sensing a change in the mood Ragi further added that people of Jammu and Kashmir are looking for the development.
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