Senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Ram Madhav in Jammu last week (Press Trust of India photo)
A week after Jammu and Kashmir delivered a fractured verdict, there is still no government in the state, but largest party Peoples Democratic Party or PDP has said it is weighing the option of a "grand alliance" with the National Conference and the Congress.
"A grand alliance with PDP, National Conference and Congress as partners is also an option," said PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar, to "form a stable government and also fulfill the aspirations of all the regions of the state."
The National Conference's Omar Abdullah, who resigned as chief minister last week, tweeted,
The BJP has lashed out at the proposal, saying it is the Congress's ploy to stay relevant in a state where it has won only 12 seats. State BJP leader Bali Bhagat also called such an alliance anti-Jammu - the party has won all its 25 seats from that region and none from the Kashmir Valley.
The BJP, which has only three seats less than the PDP's 28, says that mandate means it must play a role in government. The party's state unit chief Jugal Kishore told NDTV today that talks are on with other parties over government formation and that a BJP delegation will meet Governor NN Vohra on January 1.
Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference, whose party won two seats and who is seen as close to the BJP, tweeted, "BJP plus is the reality-if we want a stable n inclusive government. The other option is new polls. All other options r fragile n unstable (sic)."
While the PDP has been an ally of the Congress before, a tie-up with its arch rival and the other key regional party National Conference, would have seemed unthinkable a week ago. As parties scrambled to do the math after votes were counted, Mr Abdullah first threw up that possibility in an interview to NDTV.
The PDP's Mehbooba Mufti will meet the Governor tomorrow to discuss government formation. Mr Vohra has also invited the BJP for talks.
The PDP won the most seats, 28, in the assembly elections, followed closely by the BJP with 25. The National Conference won 15 seats and the Congress 12. Smaller parties and Independents won seven in the 87-member assembly.