BJP brass eyes Independents, local outfits as key to next govt in J&K

BJP leaders foresee no role for established parties like Congress in forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir. They expect seven local parties and 32 Independents to perform well. The BJP aims to retain its dominance in the Jammu region and emerge as the single largest party, seeking to form a government once more.

NEW DELHI: The assessment of top BJP politicians that established parties in Jammu and Kashmir , including Congress, will have no role in government formation is based on the possibility of a good performance by seven local parties and 32 Independents in the fray, who are said to be strongly placed. Sources said Independents and local parties will hold the key to govt formation, while the BJP brass is looking to retain its dominance in the Jammu region and emerge as the single largest party, a status on which it aims to bid to form a govt for the second time in J&K. A govt source dismissed speculation that there was any "tacit understanding" with Engineer Rashid and that he was BJP's 'B team'.

The source said Rashid's bail was based on a Supreme Court judgment through which Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail for campaigning. "There is no question of a tie-up with Engineer Rashid, he is a UAPA detainee and his bail was vociferously opposed by govt," the source said. Asked about Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir demanding that since many of its cadres were contesting polls as Independents, the ban on it be lifted, the source said the two were different issues.

"The ban on Jamaat is due to their secessionist agenda...

and the ban is going to stay," he added. The govt source said security forces were alert about the recent terror attacks in Jammu region where they chose inaccessible areas by changing their tactics. "Our security forces are stabilised in over 70% of terrain where recent attacks were reported," the source said, adding that over 30,000 villagers were trained as defence volunteers and provided with guns.

Asked about restoring J&K's statehood, the source reiterated govt's position that a commitment had been made on the floor of Parliament and it would be done in due course. "We believe in the process of democracy and there is a commitment to the people of J&K that statehood will be restored. However, we can't say when exactly it will happen as conditions in the country, as also the approach of the neighbouring country, will be factors in this," the source said.

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