POLITICAL CORRIDORS ABUZZ WITH POSSIBILITY OF NC-BJP ALIGNMENT

After Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC) met the top Bharatiya Janata Party leadership in Delhi recently, political circles are abuzz with speculation that the ruling party of J&K might be preparing the ground to return to an alliance with the BJP in return of statehood for the union territory.

- BADAR BASHIR

According to a person privy to the developments, there are already murmurs of BJP ready to offer a Cabinet post to Omar's father Farooq Abdullah, apart from giving J&K full statehood if the party joins the NDA. "If they decide to switch sides, the senior Abdullah might get a senior Cabinet berth.

It all depends on the decision of the Abdullahs. Else, it's just talk." Another top source suggested that four out of the six Congress MLAs in the Union Territory are willing to join the NC. However, the other two lawmakers (including the veteran Tariq Hamid Karra) are solidly with the Congress.