The results of the biggest electoral exercise are out. While the exit polls had predicted a clean sweep for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and pushing of the Indian National Congress (INC) to the corner but results proved that it is a tough fight. Though NDA may knot together an alliance and form the government but BJP on its own cannot form government and needs political allies like Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP). This leads us to the unreliable world of coalition governments where one bad decision means allies switch sides pulling the rug under the executive government in one single day.
Anyways BJP is few seats short of the magical number and needs support of both TDP and JD (U). While TDP is somewhat a reliable partner the same cannot be said of the JD (U). Nitish Kumar the premier of the party is the proverbial turncoat and is the known to break alliances at a drop of a hat. Even though there is news that he may be offered the role of deputy prime minister last played by Lal Kishan Advani some two decades back. But Narendra Modi till now has a right hold on his cabinet and does not tolerate an iota of deviation from the script he dishes out. At a time when the desperate INDIA block may throw an equally tantalizing offer at Nitish it remains to be seen which offer he accepts.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the biggest shock came from north Kashmir where Er Rasheed defeated seasoned President of National Conference Omar Abdullah by a huge margin. Sajad Lone who had done huge campaigning for this election would also be hugely disappointed. From South Kashmir on expected lines Mian Altaf, the spiritual leader of the Gujjar community, and veteran National Conference leader won with a huge margin as Gujjars in hinterland votes for him en masse.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir must once again be congratulated for their massive participation in this parliamentary election.
Discussion about this post