New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is exploring all possibilities to form government in Jammu and Kashmir before February 7, the day Delhi will vote to elect a new assembly.
Top party leadership is of the view that government formation in the border state ahead of Delhi assembly polls will send a positive message to the electorate, and thus will garner more support than it is expecting.
The two parties, BJP and PDP, so far have shown no signs of softening their stand over contentious issues like Article 370, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), delimitation issues and the chief minister's tenure.
It is believed that the PDP has sought assurances from BJP on several issues but the saffron party is reportedly worried over the backlash that it may have to face after that.
Reports, however, yesterday suggested that the talks between the BJP and PDP picked up momentum.
On Sunday, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. Sources said that the meeting was held to end deadlock over government formation in Jammu & Kashmir.
The results of the assembly elections threw up a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir with the PDP emerging as the single largest party bagging 28 seats in the 87-member house. The BJP came close second with 25 seats while National Conference bagged 15 seats followed by Congress with 12 seats and others winning seven seats.
Governor's rule was imposed in the state on January 8, a day after former chief minister Omar Abdullah asked Vohra to relieve him of the caretaker responsibilities with immediate effect.
