BJP started the election campaign with a much hyped 44 plus agenda in Jammu and kasmir. Whereas National Conference was sure that it will win more than the 28 seats, but results out with tarnishing their dreams. The assembly polls threw up a hung house, with the Peoples Democratic Party winning 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party a record 25, the ruling National Conference 18 and the Congress slipping to 12 seats.
With no party in a position to form a government, BJP with 25 seats, declared Thursday that it was determined to govern Jammu and Kashmir. Now the biggest question is that will the country’s only Muslim-majority state, gets BJP-led Govt or is inching towards Governor’s Rule?
Ram Madhav party general secretary of BJP said party is ready to lead the government in Jammu and Kashmir. I am here to explore the options.” Finance Minister Jaitley said the BJP would play a prominent role in government formation and the decision on its exact nature had been left to party president Amit Shah, party is trying to knot the discussion with other parties, he said. “Whatever government is formed, the BJP should have a prominent role in the political process, he further said.
Amid speculation says the BJP would get the chief minister’s post for a full six years while Abdullah would join the union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Initially it appeared the National Conference had reached some kind of an agreement with the BJP. Both National Conference and PDP are having secret talks with BJP but denying their meeting with BJP. But the BJP is no more timid about its dealings with them.
A PDP spokesperson said that party has a pressure on it to reach an early post-election agreement with the BJP. “As of now, we have decided to wait and watch,” said the spokesperson.
How long can the two parties refuse to admit that they may want to sail with the BJP? Can the PDP and the National Conference join their hands to defeat BJP Govt?
These are the questions will determined the sort of rule Jammu and Kashmir going to have.