Limited numbers force BJP overtures to PDP

Functionaries feel there is little scope of improvement if elections are held again

The assessment that it would not be able to improve its current strength of 25 MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, in the event of a snap poll in the State, has pushed the BJP to search for a partnership with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), according to sources tracking the ongoing talks between the two parties. The BJP had briefly considered the option of President’s rule in the State, but concluded that it would only frustrate the Hindu voters in the Jammu region, who voted overwhelmingly for the party.

“The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is different from the situations that existed in Maharashtra and Delhi where a repeat election could have worked to our advantage. Maharashtra gave us the upper hand in talks with potential partners, while in Delhi we could go for fresh polls. In Jammu and Kashmir, the party has won all that it could already,” a party functionary said, adding that it would like to make the best of what it has got.

While the BJP has peaked in the State by sweeping all Hindu-dominated seats in the Jammu region, the PDP’s performance has been suboptimal, leaving a lot of scope of improvement in the event of a repeat election. The Kashmir Valley did not entirely consolidate behind the PDP that won 28 seats, even as the National Conference (NC) and the Congress exceeded expectations by winning 15 and 12 seats respectively. If the current Assembly does not throw up a government in the State and a fresh election takes place, the PDP could improve at the expense of both the NC and the Congress, the third and fourth parties in terms of strength. The valley has 46 seats.

A source close to the PDP leadership said while it is important for the party to be in power, patriarch Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is also playing his cards keeping in mind the BJP’s compulsions.

“No BJP MLA is ready for a mid-term election. BJP’s Hindu constituency would reflect on the wisdom of voting the BJP if the party cannot claim power in the State,” he said.

“At the same time, Mufti

saab also understands the importance of having the BJP on his side, given the fact that it is in power in Delhi,” he said.

Realising that they have to do business with each other, the BJP and PDP are taking it slow to ensure that their mutually exclusive constituencies reconcile to the fact that there is no option but to have an alliance.