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New Delhi, December 23
With the BJP emerging as potential kingmaker in Jammu and Kashmir, party chief Amit Shah today did not rule out joining hands with either PDP or National Conference, saying “all options are open”.
“All options are open. The option of forming a BJP government is open. The option of supporting somebody is also open. The option of joining some government is also open...
“All three options are open,” he told reporters, as results showed that the BJP will be second largest party in the state after the PDP.
BJP’s decision will also depend on initiatives taken by other parties, he said.
The party’s Parliamentary Board in its meeting tomorrow will weigh its options in the state and also deliberate on its chief ministerial candidate in Jharkhand, where it is set to form the government, Shah said.
The shock loss of party leader and former chief minister Arjun Munda has further thrown open the leadership issue in Jharkhand.
While the J&K Assembly election result has returned a hung verdict, BJP with its ally AJSU is close to cross the magic number of 41 in the 81-member Jharkhand House.
In the 87-member J&K Assembly, the latest wins and lead tally of PDP, BJP and NC was 28, 25 and 15 respectively.
A visibly-delighted Shah termed the results an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and his government’s development work since he assumed office in May.
“The poll verdict is a lesson for those who oppose our government’s agenda of development and change,” he said, in a dig at Opposition parties who have tried to corner the government in Parliament over conversion issue.
“BJP has increased its seats from 18 in 2009 to 41 this time in Jharkhand. In J and K, our seats have increased from 11 in 2008 to 25... We have received the maximum percentage of votes in the state,” he said.
BJP has emerged as a relevant democratic force in J&K, he said. — PTI
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