BJP-PDP coalition government likely in Jammu and Kashmir

Sources in New Delhi say senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which could signal the launch of formal negotiations between the two political parties

A People’s Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir looks a distinct possibility, after the BJP on Thursday hinted it could negotiate its insistence on having a “Hindu chief minister” from Jammu.

The two parties could start formal talks in a week to draw up a common minimum programme for the prospective coalition. The common minimum programme is likely to go soft on some contentious issues, such as repeal of Article 370 or the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The BJP has been consistent on the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Union, while PDP wants AFSPA repealed.

Sources in New Delhi said senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig was likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which could signal the launch of formal negotiations between the two political parties.

However, the Centre is also mulling a “plan B” in case the PDP-BJP coalition government doesn’t materialise by the January 19 deadline (the term of the current assembly ends on January 19), an eventuality that will put the state under the President’s Rule.

According to sources, the Centre is of the view that the border state will be better served by a “politician with human touch” as the governor of the state instead of a bureaucrat or a retired army general. Current Governor N N Vohra is a retired bureaucrat and is on an extension after having completed his five-year term last year. In recent months, a former lieutenant general has also been talked of as a possible successor to Vohra.

On Thursday, some of the newly elected BJP legislators met Vohra. The meeting follows that of PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti and her MLAs meeting the governor on Wednesday. Mufti had also hinted the two parties could come together, and in that backdrop invoked the political process that Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the PM, started with the Hurriyat and Pakistan over a decade back.

BJP leader Jugal Kishore Sharma said after the meeting  the governor that BJP’s dialogue with other parties is on and people of the state will “soon get good news”, but sought some more time for the dialogue to reach fruition. Party leader Avinash Rai Khanna said a common minimum programme will be prepared to ensure any coalition government of which the BJP becomes a part can run effectively.

The BJP is averse to forming a government with the National Conference and help of Independents and others. The party leadership is of the view that the mandate of the election was against the misrule of Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government, and that the BJP should respect it.

Similarly, the PDP is said to appreciate the key role that the central government plays with regards to a sensitive state like J&K, and does not want to lead a so-called secular coalition, which could hurt the interests of the people of the state. Both BJP and PDP also want the negotiations to play out for another week or two for their respective cadres and supporters to be convinced about the need for a BJP-PDP coalition government.