Within days of calling off the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, the ruling BJP decided to pull out of the Jammu and Kashmir coalition government saying it had become untenable. Ending the three-and-a-half-year-old alliance in the state, the BJP said its other majority partner—PDP—has not been able to control the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security sources said the latest flashpoint had come on the extension of the ceasefire. PDP chief and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti wanted to extend the cessation of operations, but the BJP was not keen. There was even speculation that Mufti could have pulled out to gain political mileage. But the BJP strategists decided to pre-empt their coalition partner's move.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who played a key role in sewing a coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, announced the decision to pull out of the government on Tuesday after party president Amit Shah called the state party leadership for talks. Madhav said the other coalition partner has been unsuccessful. The BJP said it was of national interest that the state be handed over to the Governor's rule.
The end of the coalition would mean that the Centre has also accepted that the ground situation was not conducive and needed a stronger response from the central forces which can only come through Governor's rule.
Madhav said the central government, in a "goodwill gesture", had called for cessation of operations during the Ramzan, but it did not get adequate response from other side and people in Jammu and Kashmir.
There had been growing demands from within the BJP that strong action be taken against the terrorists in the state, and not follow the old path of reaching out for talks. "Keeping in mind the larger interest of India's integrity and to bring the deteriorating situation in the state under control, it would be apt to hand over the governance to the governor of J&K," Madhav said.
Madhav also blamed his coalition partner in carrying out developmental work. "The Centre did everything for the valley. We've tried to put a full-stop to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan. The PDP has not been successful in fulfilling its promises. Our leaders have been facing a lot of difficulties from the PDP in developmental works in Jammu and Ladakh," Madhav said.
He added, "Terrorism, violence, and radicalisation have risen and fundamental rights of the citizens are in danger in the Kashmir valley. Despite support from the central government, the PDP failed to control the situation." The action on the part of the BJP is also aimed at sending a strong political message within the country that it was watching out for larger interests than keeping a coalition government.
Politically, this will be second coalition partner that the BJP has lost after the Chandrababu-led TDP. But in case of Kashmir, the BJP appeared to have weighed its larger benefits than running a government which had become extremely unpopular.
The quick chain of events saw National Security Adviser Ajit Doval meeting Shah at latter's residence in the morning. The BJP ministers have tendered their resignations to the governor.
Ironically, Governor N.N. Vohra's tenure is coming to an end on June 25. Speculation was rife that interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma could replace Vohra. Sharma comes with a wide experience and was earlier director of intelligence bureau.
Politically, this could set off new equations in the valley. The other political parties like the National Conference and the Congress could use this opportunity to embarrass the BJP, by supporting the Mufti government in the interest of the valley population and peace. The next few months are likely to be very volatile in terms of political atmosphere.