Heart beats will be fast today as the fate of the candidates will be decided by the verdict today. After a prolonged process of three phase Assembly Elections the wait is over. Political market is vibrant with the predictions as to who will form the government in Jammu and Kashmir after a decade. After the political reorganization the erstwhile princely state has gone a tremendous change. Different political players were in the fray. Neutralization of Article 370 and 35 A has stimulated many narratives. It has given traction to many opinions that will certainly impact the verdict and will have an impression on the Assembly formation. The trends that are emerging from various exit poll agencies suggest a tough competition among the parties. There are apprehensions of a cliff hanger results this time that will leave many parties and candidates disheartened. The thumb rule says that Jammu and Kashmir poll results will be divided in terms of regional aspirations. Will BJP end up retaining Jammu and Kashmir while having the competitive ideological tussle between the Kashmir based parties? This tussle will be guided by the commitment towards restoring the special status. The party that has been vocal for reversing the neutralization of Article 370 and 35 A will certainly gain. This can be internalized from the mood that was prevalent among the masses during the voting. Not only that the presence of the independents from the hard line formations will surely impact the fate of the parties who have contested on the autonomy and special status plank. It is simple that competitive politics to deviate from the mainstream has been the issue in these elections. On the other hand there has been an advent of the political players that contested the elections on the issue of development and peace. This too has takers. In such a situation what political combination will emerge depends on the expediency. National Conference is showing the signs of revival and PDP will too make its presence felt. Though National Conference has alliance with the Congress but there are indications that the spirit of the Gupkar Alliance is still prevailing. National conference leader Dr. Farooq Abdullah has said that his party will accept support from Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP though it does not need that to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir. He has said this in response to the reports that PDP was ready to support the National Conference–Congress Alliance to form the government. Dr. Farooq underlined that the exit polls predicted the National Conference victory and all parties must join hands to save Jammu and Kashmir. He substantiated it by saying, “Even if we don’t need it, we will take the support (from PDP) because if we have to go ahead, we have to do it together. We all have to make an effort to save this state. This state is in a lot of difficulties………………………..”I extend to her my heartfelt gratitude…we will try to build this state together…I have not spoken with her, I have only read it in newspapers.” Showing his reluctance about the exit polls, he said “I am not too excited about exit polls because they can be both right and wrong. The real truth will be revealed once the boxes are opened and the votes are counted. We are hopeful that the (NC-Congress) alliance will form a stable government (in Jammu and Kashmir) and that is what we are looking forward to”. It is pertinent to mention that Axis My India has predicted that National Conference Alliance can clinch 35-45 seats while it has shown BJP securing 24-34 seats. Magic number to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir is 46.In this emerging scenario fingers are crossed. Let us see which way the wind blows but that must be for the prosperity and peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
