Click to play videoSrinagar: For the fourth time in the year, an election result has thrown up a fascinating picture. 2008 has been a year of electoral surprises and the Jammu and Kashmir has lived up to it.
This has been perhaps the most tightly fought election in the history of the border state and the election results have exemplified the competitive nature of the state politics.
The National Conference emerged the single largest party in the Assembly poll results on Sunday and the family – Farooq and son Omar Abdullah – offered prayers at the mausoleum of the grand old man of the states politics - Sheikh Abdullah.
In 2002, the Abdullah-founded National Conference was the single largest party but it chose to stay in opposition. In 2008, its tally is one less than the last time. But it’s all set to form the next government with the support of the congress.
"If left to myself, I would choose the party whose national credentials and secular credentials are known. BJP – both at the national level or state level - had they been secular they would have been ruling the country for the past 30 years. If they have been rejected across the country, it is because of their communal attitude,” said Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Many look at this statement as a clear indication that the Congress too is keen to do business with the National conference, rather than with the People’s Democratic Party.
Observers feel that PDP's gains are largely a consequence of their ability to tap into the separatists’ vote.
On the ground, there were enough indications that even the Jamaat-e-islami had tried its best to garner support for the PDP.
In its election manifesto, the PDP talked about radical things like a separate currency for Jammu - all factors which might make it difficult for a national party to adjust to
"There experience of allying with the NC was not good earlier. This time our position has actually bettered compared with the other parties,” said PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti.
CNN-IBN has also learnt that the Congress is keen on installing Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister instead of his father. Something Abdullah senior states is of no concern to him.
“I have been chief minister earlier. I am not interested anymore,” he said.
Omar was quick to up the ante. “I know who I don’t want to ally with - the BJP. Rest all options are open,” he said.
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