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| Desperate to keep PDP away, NC posturing for post poll alliance with BJP | | | Bashir Assad
Srinagar, June 23: In order to ensure that People's Democratic Party (PDP), the major opposition does not wrest power in the state, the ruling National Conference is exploring the option of forging a post-poll alliance with the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) after the forthcoming Assembly elections.
NC President and former Union minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who has many friends in BJP, is reportedly exploring the possibilities of having an alliance with the BJP, which is expected to get the major share of the vote in the Hindu-dominated Jammu region.
Reliable sources in NC told Early Times on Monday that besides taking a slew of measures as a damage control mechanism and win voter confidence back, the party leadership is open to the idea of entering into a post-poll alliance with the BJP in an attempt to keep its arch rival PDP away from power in the state. It merits mention that in the recently-held Lok Sabha elections, PDP had lead in 39 of the 44 Assembly segments in the valley. NC is hoping that it may improve its performance in certain Assembly segments of Srinagar and Kupwara districts. However, it is widely believed that the recently-held Parliamentary elections are a reflection of public mood, and it will stay pro-PDP till the Assembly elections are held later this year.
The NC leadership is desperate to secure at least 10 to 14 seats in the valley. It is pinning its hopes on post-poll support of the BJP to form the government. The Congress has come out clear on its plans to break away from the alliance and has even knocked the doors of PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Syed for a pre-poll alliance. The Congress bid has been cold-shouldered by the PDP leadership.
It may be mentioned here that the firebrand Additional General Secretary of NC, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, who is also a sitting MLA, has often advocated that it is in the interest of the state to have good relations with the government at the Centre, irrespective of the party in power there.
If the National Conference is successful in its efforts to woo the BJP, it may even sell this tie-up as a pre-poll plank, promising people of greater benefits for the state from the Centre.
In the given scenario, both NC and the Congress are facing major anti-incumbency and public wrath. Despite their various efforts to turn the tide, it currently seems as if nothing is working in their favour.
On the other hand, BJP is enthused about wiping out the Congress from the Jammu region, riding on the Modi factor. Back in Kashmir valley, the Mufti factor is dominant. As a result, there is a big question mark against the very survival of the National Conference in the valley.
It is evident that PDP has also made inroads in the Muslim-dominated areas of Jammu region, and is expecting to improve its tally from the existing two seats to a minimum of six seats. Political observers in the state say that if BJP continues to polarize the Hindu vote, the Muslim vote will consolidate in favour of PDP. Riding on this confidence, PDP had recently categorically ruled out any alliance with the BJP for the Assembly elections. Party President Mehbooba Mufti had asserted that PDP would contest the elections in the state on its own. The party has been on an upswing after winning three of the six Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Senior political observers add that even though BJP has performed spectacularly in the country, it is difficult for the party to come to power in J&K on its own. In this light, tying up with NC may be a win-win situation for both partners. |
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