Press Statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) now in session at Kolkata has issued the following statement:
On The Jammu & Kashmir Election Results
The Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections have resulted in a defeat for the ruling National Conference. The National Conference has paid the price for its opportunism in aligning with the BJP at the Centre, a party which rejects Article 370 and autonomy for the state. The betrayal by the National Conference of its secular traditions by joining hands with the communal BJP has not been forgiven by the people in the valley. The misrule of the Farooq Abdullah government has also contributed to the popular discontent. The Congress and the PDP have gained in the elections, the former particularly in Jammu and the latter in the valley.
The results show that the people would have exercised their franchise in a bigger way if the political dialogue to resolve the outstanding issues had been initiated well before. The election process underlines the fact that there is no other way to resolve the Kashmir issue except through the democratic process and dialogue. It is a rebuff to the terroristic violence indulged by the extremist groups.
The CPI(M) has won two seats. Mohd. Yusuf Tarigami, State Secretary and Central Committee member has been reelected from Kulgam and the Party has won the Wachi seat for the first time. This is a recognition of the state unit’s record of consistently defending the people’s interests. The Polit Bureau congratulates them on this success.