Back channels open in J&K as parties Await results

Srinagar: Both, BJP and NC-Congress alliance are reportedly talking to small political parties and independents before October 8, when the results would be announced for 90 Assembly segments of Jammu and Kashmir. While NC and BJP have dismissed the rumours being in the media circles that they are talking to small parties and independent candidates, J&K Congress Chief Tariq Hameed Karra said that NC-Congress alliance doors were open for all those parties and individuals who are on the same page with I.N.D.I.A. alliance.
When he was asked about any possible post-poll alliance with PDP, he said that all such parties who want to keep BJP out of power in J&K are welcome into the NC-Congress alliance. According to the insiders, Omar Abdullah is emerging as a stumbling block for any post-poll arrangements with parties and leaders like Mehbooba Mufti, Engineer Rashid and Sajad Gani Lone.
Karra has been very close to Muftis and was Finance Minister in the PDP-Congress coalition government. “If the need arises, our doors are open for all like-minded people, forces, parties and even individuals. We can discuss this with our alliance partner so that we can talk to such people if there is a need,” the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president said. Asked whether they considered the PDP a “like-minded party”, Karra said he would not like to qualify anyone. “I have said like-minded, on the same page against BJP’s repressive, oppressive policies,” he added.
The J&K Congress chief said there was “a nefarious design” behind the process of nominating five MLAs by the lieutenant governor to the J&K assembly. Reports said that Karra was in touch with Mehbooba Mufti and was trying to keep the channels open in case NC-Congress alliance falls short of majority. Banking on the support base in Jammu region, BJP Chief Ravinder Raina has expressed hope that on October 8, BJP will emerge as a single largest party and will form the government.
Earlier, senior BJP leader and J&K Election In charge Ram Madhav told the media that this time BJP will form government in J&K with the help of like-minded parties and individuals. Madhav said that NC and PDP together could not surpass the BJP’s number of seats which will it get from the union territory this time. A spokesman of NC said, ahead of counting of votes on October 8, that NC is not engaged with any other political party or independent candidate in back-channel talks for government formation after the results are out.