We honour verdict; will play role of robust opposition: BJP

Jammu, Oct 9: A day after the people’s verdict, which brought National Conference-Congress combine back in the saddle, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to play a “robust opposition in the Legislative Assembly.”

“We honour the verdict of the people. People have given a verdict for the National Conference (NC) to run the government. In a democracy we’ve to honour and respect that. We have been given the role of opposition and we will play a robust opposition,” the J&K BJP Chief Spokesperson Sunil Sethi, while responding to Greater Kashmir query about BJP’s next move post assembly election result, said.

“Though I won’t say it’s a fractured mandate, yet it is a one-sided mandate. In Jammu, it is one-sided in favour of BJP and in Kashmir also, it is one-sided in favour of NC. Looking at the numbers, NC probably does not need any other party, including Congress, to run the government. Now whether the (new) government will be looking at the aspirations of people of Jammu also – it is to be seen. Nevertheless, we welcome the decision of the people,” he said.

“After the newly elected Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) take oath, they will meet to elect their Legislature Party leader,” Sethi said, in response to a related query.

The party had pinned high hopes on independent candidates (from Kashmir) for government formation. However, it could not reach that stage. Moreover, independent candidates failed to make any impact in Kashmir. Out of seven (winning) independent candidates, five were from Jammu region and were either Congress or NC rebels – all gearing up for “Ghar-Wapsi” (homecoming).

What was BJP’s take on that? In reply to this query, Sethi said, “See, we don’t need any. We understand the dynamics of politics. NC would like to have independents with it so that it can have a government on its own; also so that it can get rid of Congress upon which it is dependent for government formation. On the other hand, Congress also wants to have independent candidates in its fold so that it can keep NC heavily relying upon it and it cannot run a government without it. So it is their internal fight now.”

He stated that after MLAs taking oath and electing Legislature Party leader, BJP would chalk out its stratagem to deal with the issues concerning Jammu region, who voted for it (BJP) and also those concerning the entire J&K.

“We want that nationalistic forces in Jammu and Kashmir should be at the forefront and whatever we have gained during the last ten years’ struggle, that should not be lost,” Sethi said.

Is there any regret that ‘Lotus’ has not bloomed even this time?

Sethi’s reply to this question was, “See, we fought well. We have increased our vote share along with seat tally, comparable to 2014. This is the best performance in J&K Legislative Assembly ever. Only change this time was that the parties in Kashmir could not perform and compete with the National Conference. All other parties could not compete. They just failed to take off, whether it’s PDP or other new regional forces.”

“Once other regional parties have been uprooted by the people, now it is the fertile ground for BJP to spread its strength in Kashmir also. Watch out, in Kashmir also, we will become the main party to oppose the politics of the National Conference. I think in future elections in J&K, BJP will be performing considerably better in Kashmir and we will do there (in Kashmir) what other parties have failed,” he said.