With the results of the state elections 2014 were out on Tuesday with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making major election gains in JK but according to partial results, the party is again facing short of majority like PDP which won 28 seats this time. In 2008 elections, BJP had won 11 seats from JK while as PDP had 21 seats in its kitty.The results that were released on Tuesday, suggested a hung assembly with no single party winning a majority in the 87-member state assembly.The PDP, that won 28 seats this time five from Srinagar, was part of a coalition that ruled the state between 2002 and 2008. Poll pundits suggest that the party is again likely to form the next government in coalition with other political groups and some independents.People’s Democratic Party this time has won 28 seats and has gained seven seats as co0mpared to the last elections. BJP has gained 14 seats this time as earlier that party had 11 members in the assembly.
On the other side, NC has lost 15 seats and most of them from the summer capital Srinagar. Earlier the party had 28 members but this time the results have squeezed it to mere 15. The state Congress has lost five seats this time as the party this time has 12 seats in its kitty.Both the BJP and the PDP benefited from widespread public discontent over the ruling National Conference party's handling of devastating September floods that killed more than 200 people in Kashmir.
Though the BJP earlier had hinted of joining hands with the national conference saying PDP’s agenda would not match with party’s stand and principles. The general secretary BJP Rameesh Arrora on Monday had stated that NC is not untouchable for them as they can go ahead with the party for the formation of the government.
Experts though suggest that PDP can tread the safe path by joining hands with the state Congress with the support of some independent candidates for the formation of the government. But some suggest that PDP might not intend to perturb the GOI as the ruling party at New Delhi is BJP. Sources in the political camps told KNS that the deliberations are on with the back channel talks gaining momentum over formation of the next government in the state.
Though BJP had fielded 32 Muslim candidates during the state elections here, they fail to cut much ice from Kashmir valley including BJP’s poster girl Hina Butt who was contesting from Amira Kadal. Hina lost the seat to PDP’s Syed Altaf Bukhari.BJP at the same time also sidelined a long-standing pledge to scrap Article 370, a constitutional provision that grants Kashmir special status in India and allows it to make its own laws.All of the BJP's gains in elections, however, came in the mainly Hindu Jammu area, while the PDP dominated in the Kashmir Valley.