1. Elections- News
After weeks of negotiations with the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress Party has agreed to form a coalition government with Mufti Mohammed Sayeed of PDP as the new Chief Minister of the state for the first three of the six-year term. Commenting on the long and sometime petty negotiations between the PDP and Congress, Amitabh Mattoo (Hindu) writes that "if the delay has resulted in a firmer commitment to a common minimum programme and in the determination to make a real difference, the loss of a fortnight may begin to be recognised, in retrospect, as a blessing in disguise." Firdous Syed (Hindu) argues that Kashmiri people are not interested in who will be the next Chief Minister of the state; rather, they are looking for a government that can provide "a vibrant, clean and responsive administration."
"Mufti Saheb, take charge"
"An agenda for a new Kashmir"
"The people's priorities"
S.S. Gill's essay (Indian Express) argues that by boycotting the elections, the nationalist-separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has "not only lost much of its credibility, it has badly hurt the larger interests of the state." Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani, however, believes that it would be "foolish" to write off the Hurriyat Conference.
"How the Hurriyat lost it"
"Foolish to write off Hurriyat, says Jethmalani"
Sandeep Bamzai (Hindustan Times) writes that a new government in Kashmir will mean "nothing" for the Kashmiri Pandits; they have been "decisively isolated."
"No one cares for Kashmiri Pandits"
Ten people, including seven alleged terrorists, were killed in separate encounters with security forces.
"7 terrorists among 10 killed in Jammu "