New Delhi, December 24 – With Jammu and Kashmir returning a hung Assembly, BJP on Tuesday said it is keeping all its “options” open in formation of the new government and is likely to hold back-channel talks with both PDP and National Conference leaders before deciding on its next course of action.
The BJP Parliamentary Board, the highest decision-making body of the party, will meet tomorrow to discuss the political situation and is likely to appoint observers for both J and K and Jharkhand for taking further steps in government formation.
“All options are open. The option of forming a BJP government is open. The option of supporting somebody is also open. The option of joining some government is also open…All three options are open,” BJP President Amit Shah said at a press conference after the party emerged as the second-largest party after PDP.
BJP’s decision will also depend on the initiatives taken by other parties, Shah said. Sources said the party’s senior leaders will leave for J and K tomorrow after the Parliamentary Board to hold back-channel talks before formal discussions with any of the parties could be held.
After the poll results in J and K and Jharkhand were declared, the BJP top brass met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence and discussed the political situation emerging in the two states.
The Jammu and K Assembly election result has returned a heavily fractured mandate. In the 87-member J&K Assembly, PDP, BJP and NC won 28, 25 and 15 seats respectively.
“BJP will form a government in both the states. The BJP Parliamentary Board will take a decision on how to form the governments,” Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters. BJP sources said five of the seven newly elected MLAs in the Independents and Others category could also offer support to the party.
BJP general Secretary Ram Madhav said, “It is a mandate in favour of development. What we have offered, we are committed to deliver. I hope that a stable government is formed in the state.”
In Jharkhand, where the BJP and its ally AJSU have got an absolute majority by winning 42 of the 81 assembly seats the party leadership is likely to appoint an observer for talking to the elected MLAs to select their leader.
A visibly-delighted Shah termed the results an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and his government’s development work since he assumed office in May.
“The poll verdict is a lesson for those who oppose our government’s agenda of development and change,” he said, in a dig at opposition parties who have tried to corner the government in Parliament over conversion issue. “It’s been a year of unprecedented success for BJP. It is due to Modi’s work and people’s love and belief in him…”
“BJP has increased its seats from 18 in 2009 to 41 this time in Jharkhand. In J and K, our seats have increased from 11 in 2008 to 25… We have received the maximum percentage of votes in the state,” he said, adding that the BJP has emerged as a relevant democratic force in J&K. BJP polled 23 per cent votes ahead of PDP’s 22.7 per cent votes.
Madhav, who has played a crucial role in J and K ahead of polls said, “our options are to form a stable government. We will explore all options.” He said he was “not happy” at the fragmented verdict in the state but the BJP accepts the verdict and thanked the people for it.
“We have emerged as a very strong party securing highest number of votes. We will try to give a stable government in the state,” he said, adding, “It is not a situation where a stable government can be formed. It is not a kind of an impossible mandate”.
Party sources said the BJP, which has won the highest number of party MLAs in the state assembly ever, is keen to be a part of the government and its leaders will hold discussions with leaders of both PDP and NC and the statements of both are being observed.
Shah when asked what will be BJP’s stand on Article 370 if it joins hands with either PDP or NC to form a government said it will decide on the issue by talking with other parties.
The saffron party has often sought repeal of the article, which gives the Muslim-majority state a special status, contending that it prevents it from joining the national mainstream. The BJP president also assured people of Jharkhand that BJP will run a “good government” in the state, saying it will fulfil its promise of state’s development if it gets a majority.
Asked if the state will have its first non-tribal chief minister, he parried the query, saying the Parliamentary Board will decide on the issue.The shock loss of party leader and former chief minister Arjun Munda has further thrown open the leadership issue in Jharkhand.
-INDIA TODAY
