BJP not keen for early Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR: After its surprise withdrawal of support to the Mehbooba Mufti government in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP is not in favour of early elections in the state and is keeping everybody guessing by not “opening its cards”.

“The situation of Kashmir is not good. We have to improve the ground situation in the Valley. After improvement in situation, we will decide what to do,” State BJP chief and firebrand BJP MLA Ravindra Raina told The New Indian Express.

The state is under Governor’s rule since June 20, a day after the BJP withdrew its support to the PDP-BJP coalition government citing a deteriorating law and order situation in the Valley.

Raina claimed that the situation in the Valley would improve within two months.

Asked if the BJP would go for early polls or form the government in the state after the situation improved, he said, “We will take a call on it after improvement of the situation”.

Giving a clear indication that the party did not favour early polls in the State, Raina said the state Assembly polls would be held after parliamentary polls.

Since the J&K Assembly has a six-year term, Assembly elections are scheduled for 2020-end.

Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta had recently said that after the situation improved during Governor’s rule, the saffron party could think about forming the government in the state.

“There is still two and a half years left for holding Assembly polls in the state. Nothing can be ruled out at this point of time,” Gupta had said.

After the fall of PDP-BJP coalition government, it was expected that Assembly elections in the State may be held after brief spell of Governor’s rule or during the parliamentary elections scheduled next year.

Governor N N Vohra had convened an All Party Meeting last Saturday to discuss the prevailing political and security situation in the state.

During the meeting, National Conference and Jammu-based party National Panthers Party had demanded dissolution of the Assembly and holding of fresh polls, but the PDP and BJP remained silent on this key issue.

Former chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been stressing that the Assembly should be dissolved immediately and fresh elections held.