The government formation in Jammu and Kashmir has been hanging in uncertainty since the demise of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in January. According to Article 50 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution there cannot be an intervening gap of more than six months between two consecutive Assembly sessions. So keeping the last date of session of the Assembly as 10th October, 2015 the cutoff date for the end of six months makes to 9th April, 2016. The deadline is not far off. Now what is to be seen is will the elected coalition of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had 10 months stint in governance would be able to patch up once again and from the government under Mehabooba Mufti? As far as State BJP leaders are concerned they have no option but to follow the dictates of the party central leadership. Riding on the Modi wave which was sweeping the country during parliamentary elections, BJP consolidated its position in the State by reaching a figure of 25 and joined PDP as the second fiddle to form the most controversial coalition which was on very weak keel. During all these period there remained a trust deficit and despite all confidence building measures the uncertainty loomed large on the government’s fate. The State BJP leaders could not fathom the depth they were falling and were basking in their new found glory of power. The sudden demise of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed party leaders became political orphans. Despite having a political majority and remained in government BJP today is on a weak ground. Even if the party’s central leadership insists on keeping the coalition intact at whatever cost, the party will not be able to come up to peoples’ expectations. In such a scenario will the coalition be able to form the government by the deadline to call for Assembly session? And if mid-term polls are held in the State which in all probabilities looks a reality, then there is no doubt the saffron party is going to get the drubbing for its own deeds leaving the field open for horse trading and emergence of new political combine in all probability.
