SRINAGAR: After its surprise withdrawal of support to the PDP-led coalition government in the State, the BJP is not in favour of early elections in Jammu and Kashmir and is keeping everybody guessing by not "opening its cards".
"The situation of Kashmir is not good. We have to improve the ground situation in the Valley. After an improvement in the situation, we will decide what to do," State BJP chief and firebrand BJP MLA Ravindra Raina told The New Indian Express. The State is under Governor's Rule from June 20, a day after the BJP withdrew support to the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government citing deteriorating law and order situation in the Valley. Raina claimed that the situation in the Valley would improve within two months of Governor's rule.
When asked if the situation improves, would BJP go for early polls or form government in the State, he said, "We will take a call on it after improvement of the situation". Giving clear indication that the party does not favour early polls in the State, Raina said the State Assembly would be held after parliamentary polls.
Since the J&K Assembly has six years term, the State Assembly elections are scheduled for 2020-end.
Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta had recently said that after situation improves during Governor's rule, then the saffron party can think over forming the government in the state. "There is still two and a half years left for holding Assembly polls in the State. Nothing can be ruled out at this point of time," Gupta had said.
After the fall of PDP-BJP coalition government, it was expected that Assembly elections in the State may be held after brief spell of Governor's rule or during the parliamentary elections scheduled next year. Governor N N Vohra had convened All Party Meeting (APM) on last Saturday to discuss the prevailing political and security situation in the State.
During the APM, National Conference and Jammu-based party National Panthers Party had demanded dissolution of Legislative Assembly and holding of fresh polls but two former allies PDP and BJP remained silent on this key issue.
The former chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been stressing that State Assembly should be dissolved immediately and fresh elections be held.
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