Abdullahs back In J&K
After an election that saw voters defy boycott calls and conquer the fear of the gun in the Valley, National Conference looks likely to
NC emerged as the single largest party overtaking the separatist-backed PDP in an election that saw a strong turnout of 60.5% in the face of a Pakistan-sponsored call for boycott, strengthening the credibility of India's democratic process.
The outcome was unanimously hailed as a victory of Indian democracy and a rebuff to what chief election commissioner N Gopalaswamy called the "fear factor".
NC promptly staked claim to form the next government, though it was not clear whether Farooq Abdullah was ready to pass on the baton to son, party chief Omar Abdullah, immediately.
Omar, widely speculated to take over the reins from his father, confirmed the party's plan to approach Congress for support even before the counting was over. "Yes, we will approach the Congress which is a like-minded party," he said.
Congress, which was in coalition with PDP before separating on a bitter note, appeared inclined to support NC. However, it may be required to handle those in the state unit who would like to see whether the Abdullahs could be pushed to support a Congressman as chief minister as the price for keeping their chief rival, the PDP, at bay.
Failing that, the state unit may ask the central leadership to insist on the post of the deputy chief minister. The terms of trade, however, are yet to be finalised.
The leadership, which reviewed the results, discussed the options at a meeting of the party's core group, will take the final call after holding discussions with representatives of the state unit.
NC, with 28, and Congress with 17 will have the majority in the 87-strong House.
NC survived a huge drop in vote share in both Valley and Jammu to finish ahead of PDP which - backed by proxy support from the separatists and the loyalty of its strongholds in southern part of the Valley - won 21 seats.
Just like its prospective partner, Congress saw a major erosion in its vote share.
The BJP, in contrast, pulled off a vastly improved performance, taking its tally from one to 11 -- its best-ever show. The party vote share recorded a jump of over 10%, thanks to the polarisation in the Jammu region over the Amarnath land controversy.
But while the BJP will remain consigned to the sidelines, Congress, the main victim of the saffron surge in Jammu, has emerged as kingmaker. The party was veering towards joining the government. The state unit is insisting on power-sharing.
There was not much clarity on who will lead the NC in the assembly. Farooq Abdullah, in response to questions, came up with the right responses, indicating that he was ready to step aside for Omar, a former Union minister and currently a member of Lok Sabha. "Why not? Omar is a young man. If he could serve better why not," agency reports quoted Abdullah Sr as saying in Srinagar just after results.
Farooq, a former chief minister who is a member of Rajya Sabha, also said, "I would be rather be in Parliament."
Congress leadership's estimate, however, was that Omar may have to wait in the wings for a while.
Omar seemed confident of Congress's support to NC's claim. "It is for them (Congress) to think whom they want as an ally, considering their past experience with PDP. During the previous PDP-Congress alliance, it was PDP which benefited while the BJP gained at the cost of Congress in Jammu," he said.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi called the polls a triumph of Indian democracy.
CEC Gopalaswamy, expressing satisfaction with the polls, attributed the unexpectedly high turnout to lack of fear factor and good weather. He identified people's expectations of bijli, sadak and pani as another big contributory factor. "The 15-20% increase in turnout is because of the absence of fear factor and good weather.
The rest is because of bijli, sadak and pani," said the CEC.
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