The Hindu : Independents hold key to govt. formation in J&K

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Independents hold key to govt. formation in J&K

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu Oct. 15. With the stalemate between the Congress and the People's Democratic Party over the choice of a new Chief Minister for Jammu and Kashmir continuing, the victory of a large number of independents in the just-concluded Assembly elections has given a new dimension to the political scenario in the State. Numbering 15, they hold the key to any government formation in the 87-member Assembly.

Other small groups such as the Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party with four MLAs, the CPI (M) with two MLAs, and the BSP and the BJP with one MLA each, have also acquired political clout. The independents and small parties together comprise more than one-fourth of the total strength of the State Assembly.

Quite a few of the independents are former National Conference men who fought the elections after they were denied the ticket. The two MLAs from Leh, who were elected unopposed, have, however, decided not to support any party. The Ladakh Union Territory Front MLA, Rigzin Spalbar, said, "the LUTF was formed after disbanding all the political parties in Ladakh to fight for the union territory status and no party will get our support till they commit themselves to our demand."

The Congress started roping in the support of the independents quite early. A day after the result of the Assembly elections were out, the PCC president, Ghulam Nabi Azad, roped in six independents and claimed the support of 10 independents in a press conference.

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