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| In the line of succession | | The dynasty sometimes acts as a glue to hold together a political structure | 
By B L Saraf
Chief Minister Mehboba Mufti has inducted her brother, Mufti Tassaduq, in her Cabinet. So a line of succession is drawn to inherit the political legacy left by the Patriarch, late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
During his tour to America, Nehru-Gandhi scion, Rahul Gandhi was asked to explain a charge that he was a dynast. Citing examples of certain political clans, who have thrived post Independence, and business houses, he said that it has become a ‘norm' in contemporary India to nurture a dynasty. So, Rahul pleaded not guilty to the charge. It was a candid admission that here politics and commercial interests work on identical pattern and follow same rules of succession.
Rahul is right. In addition to his own political family we have those of Karunanidhis, Badals, Yadavs, Scindhias, Pawars etc., in the plains, and Abdullahs and Muftis in Kashmir. They have turned their political parties into a family enterprise. Unfortunate it may be, but they have received public endorsement of sorts. Remember winning an election may not be that difficult, as arduous it is for an ordinary political worker to acquire a Party candidature to fight the one . True, his wining ability has emboldened a political heir to claim legitimacy of sorts. The boast, however , misses the point. Before winning a game – even a political one, a contestant has to reach the top to jump into the final fray. Like in any other game as in a political exercise an aspirant for the high post has to cross many hurdles, suffer innumerable handicaps to reach the final. On the other hand, a political heir has a wild card entry to the top which saves him from traveling a long and tortuous route to reach the final arena. Then there is a helpful hand of a biological turned political parent to ensure a final leap past the goal post .
Well, for Muftis it is a story in the reverse. In their case it is the heir who brought the patriarch from political oblivion to the pedestal. Despite being in political business since 1963, Mufti Muhammad Sayead had to draw the first honor of crossing the election goal post from R S Pora, Jammu. The valley had cold shouldered him till 2002. It is his daughter Mehbooba who broke the jinx for the family after she successfully contested election and entered the State Assembly via Bijbehara, in 1996 on an INC Ticket. Then, she paved way for her father to enter the state Assembly in 2002, fighting it out from a constituency in the Valley wearing a garment woven in the ‘ Self Rule' matrix.
Modern day politician feels insecure, for which he has himself to blame . There is complete breakdown of trust between a leader and the follower. Rather than seeing him as his benefactor, a common man sees in the politician a tormentor and a greedy individual whose only aim is to garner unjust riches. This fear syndrome, coupled with his filial weaknesses, has forced a politician to rely only on his progeny or a sibling. Thus we see Son / Daughter rise phenomenon gaining currency in a political game.
Howsoever one may detest family succession in the politics, in Kashmir it has a virtue. It is impossible to create a normal political structure here. Given the strong cross – currents and the many active fault lines, even separatists find it hard to maintain a one straight political dispensation to pursue their cause. For the nationalists, odds are too heavy. So they have to cling on to what is available in the political market . The dynasty sometimes acts as a glue to hold together a political structure.
We are told Mufti Tassaduq has had a professional life thus far. He has lived , mostly , in the cosmopolitan areas and interacted with diverse socio-economic quarters, as such has developed an emancipated outlook on various political and mundane issues . That is certainly reassuring. We face multiple challenges, that have mounted on account of insensitive approach of the powers that be. Jammu and Kashmir badly needs an emancipated, honest and efficient governance which is sensitized to appreciate the concerns and is capable of addressing varied aspirations of a diverse and complex society. Tassaduq may be the right person !
(The author is a Former Principal District & Sessions Judge. Feedback- [email protected] )
(Disclaimer: The views, observations and opinions expressed in above write up of Scoop News are strictly author's own. Scoop News does not take any onus or liability for the veracity, accuracy, validity, completeness, suitability of any of information in the above given write up. The information, facts or figures appearing in the write up in no way manifest the position, standpoint or stance of Scoop News and the Scoop News does not assume any encumbrance or answerability of the same. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent Courts and Forums in Jammu City Only)
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