SRINAGHAR: The J&K BJP leaders and party’s newly elected 25 legislators are divided over the choice of alliance partners between two regional parties – National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) -- for government formation in the State.
Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Ram Madhav held interaction with State;s newly elected legislators in Jammu yesterday. The BJP leaders held one-to-one meeting with all the newly elected 25 legislators besides senior party leaders of J&K. They later held a joint meeting to discuss the government formation.
State BJP leader and Kashmir incharge Ramesh Arora told Express that the newly elected members put forth their views on finding alliance partners.
“Some members were of the opinion that party should forge alliance with weakened National Conference and it would be favourable for the party,” he said.
Arora said other members said since BJP has got massive mandate in Jammu and PDP in Valley, the two parties should join hands by respecting the mandate and form the government, which will work for development of the State,” he said.
He said the general view was that BJP should be part of any government formed in the State.
After differences in their opinion the J&K party leaders and newly elected party legislators authorized party president Amit Shah and central leaders to take a final call on finding alliance partners for forming coalition government in the State.
After getting authorization from State leaders, party’s central leaders have increased activities for government formation in J&K and talked with PDP’s senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig and separatist-turned-mainstream leader Sajjad Lone.
People in the State have given a fractured mandate with none of the parties getting absolute majority. PDP has emerged as single largest party with 28 seats in 87-member J&K Assembly. BJP is close second with 25 seats followed by National Conference and Congress with 15 and 12 seats respectively. Sajjad Lone’s People Conference has won two seats while five independents have also won.
Why BJP-NC alliance?
The State BJP leaders and some newly elected members want alliance with NC because the party has been weakened in the elections and has only 15 legislators in 87-member J&K Assembly.
The State BJP leaders feel that if they go with NC, there is every likelihood that there would be BJP CM in the State for the first time as NC is not in a position to dictate terms to the saffron party.
“In order to stay relevant in the political scene, NC can align with BJP. It (NC) can allow BJP to lead the government and be junior party of the coalition alliance,” they said and favoured talks with NC on government formation.
Why BJP-PDP alliance?
Some State BJP leaders and newly elected members want the party to forge alliance with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s PDP.
They say BJP has got mandate in Jammu and PDP in Valley and it becomes obligatory for the two parties to respect the peoples mandate and forge alliance on principles and common minimum programme to provide stable and credible government of the State.
The State leaders and newly elected party legislators opine that how can they ally with NC, which ruled the State and against whom they had campaigned vigorously.
“PDP-BJP coalition government can provide strong and stable government in the State and ensure development of both provinces – Jammu and Kashmir,” they said and pressed party to open communication lines with PDP.
They said the party can discuss rotational CM with PDP and get him agree with this formula.