The Jammu and Kashmir elections involved every section of society in the state, and the same inclusiveness was reflected in the verdict today. For the first time, the entire ideological and political spectrum will be represented in sizeable numbers in the 87-member House: from the Hindutva-centered BJP to the soft-separatist PDP, from a resurgent National Conference to the potential kingmaker Congress. Along with the separatist rethink of Boycott and the silence of militants’ guns, it is a development that has the potential to redefine mainstream politics in the state.

The National Conference is the single-largest party in the new house with 28 seats, and is likely to form the government in alliance with the Congress, which has won 17 seats. The PDP has improved on its 2002 tally of 16, securing 21 seats. The BJP, riding the Amarnath wave, has made spectacular gains in Hindu-dominated areas of Jammu, winning 11 seats. The Panthers Party has won three seats in Jammu, while the Kashmir-based Democratic Party (Nationalist) and Peoples Democratic Front have won a seat each. The CPI(M) has won a seat, and Independents, four.

The surprise emergence of the BJP has a formidable player has made it difficult for the Congress and PDP to get together to keep the NC out. Together, the parties have 38 seats, six short of the halfway mark. It will be difficult for the Panthers Party to overcome political compulsions in Jammu to join a Congress-PDP coalition, and the three members of the smaller parties in the Valley favour an NC-Congress alliance.

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