Jammu & Kashmir’s only local party National Panthers Party facing survival threat in a four-cornered contest

SRINAGAR: Jammu’s most prominent local outfit, J&K National Panthers Party (PP), is fighting a battle for survival as BJP dents its support base, Congress holds on to its safe seats and the two main state parties, PDP and NC, go all out to woo voters in a do-or-die battle. Strong in areas around Udhampur, the party’s three lawmakers saw their voters move to BJP in Lok Sabha polls and reversing the trend is proving a tall order for the Panthers.

“The party has an edge in Samba and most probably the division of votes between BJP’s official and rebel candidates in Udhampur may help the party retain the seat,” says Anil Kumar, an Udhampur- based writer, adding “I doubt it will retain either Ramnagar or wrest Chenaini from Congress.”

However, party founder Bhim Singh is putting up a brave face. “PDP is emerging better in Kashmir but it does not exist here. Prospects of BJP and NC were taken away by the Jhelum in Kashmir and the case in Jammu is no more different,” Singh says and hopes his party emerges with a better vote share and more members in the assembly.

Panthers Party came into being in 1982 when its founder Bhim Singh parted ways with Congress and floated his own party to oppose Sheikh Abdullah’s J&K Resettlement Act.

Considered an the ‘stunt man’ of Jammu, Singh’s maiden entry into assembly was on Congress ticket in 1977. In 1983, he managed to retain his seat, Chenaini, despite resigning from Congress and Indira Gandhi personally campaigning against him.

PP put up its best show in 2002 when it won four seats. The party bagged one seat each in 1983 and 1996. In 2008, it lost Chenaini and won only three seats.