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| If Congress turns up single largest party, NC, PDP may aspire for third place | | | Abodh Sharma
Jammu, Nov 10: If emphatic predictions by Congress that it would win enough seats in the 2014 Assembly elections to form Government on its own in Jammu and Kashmir turn out true to the extent of its emergence as the single largest party, both National Conference and PDP would aspire and wish to end up third rather than a close second to Congress.
Political gurus believe that if Congress found itself in such a position that it needed a partner to form the government, it would prefer to enter into coalition with a weaker partner rather than with a stronger one. "Even though both National Conference and PDP have been assuming comforting postures viz a viz Congress pre-empting the emergence of Congress as the necessary ingredient of any political dispensation that could form next government in the state, Congress would strategically choose a weaker partner rather than a stronger one," said a former MLA, ruling out the possibility of Congress getting a clear majority on its own in the 87 seat House.
In 2002 elections, Congress which had 20 MLAs entered into coalition with PDP that had 16 MLAs to form Government under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with the help of few independents and JKNPP that had 4 MLAs. National Conference had won 28 seats, but despite being single largest party, it had to sit in the Opposition. In 2008 however, Congress entered into coalition with National Conference to keep PDP, which had 21MLAs, out of power after the marriage had turned sour between the former partners.
Recent incidents of fence jumping by noted leaders of both NC and PDP into Congress have given a shot in the arm to it and the party rank and file has further been invigourated by the recent visit of Rahul Gandhi. While National Conference was arm twisted to 'incorporate' 73rd amendment in the Panchayati Raj Act following Rahul's open show of dissent in the Jammu rally, the Additional General Secretary Mustafa Kamaal who had declared war on Congress leadership has suddenly lost his speech.
Eventhough BJP riding on the wave of Narendra Modi across the country is whispering possibility of an NDA regime in the Centre after 2014 general elections, BJP that won unprecedented 11 seats in the state in 2008 continues to be a political untouchable in the state. In the current political scenario in the J&K, Congress may find itself in a position of comfort to choose its partner following 2014 elections and this time it would not like to play second fiddle in the Government. |
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