'BJP trying to woo Omar Abdullah in J&K'

'Prime Minister Modi is highly displeased with the leaders who sought organisational reshuffle in the state'.

- BADAR BASHIR

With Jammu and Kashmir reaching the 5-year mark without any Assembly election, there has been a rise in speculation about the elections being held alongside or after Lok Sabha elections (to be held next year). However, sources have suggested that the ruling BJP at the Centre has initiated its outreach plan to court the largest regional party in Kashmir, the National Conference (NC), to be in the game in the Union Territory.

Sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trusted aide in advisory circles is said to have reached out to Omar Abdullah and persuasively offered him to be part of the NDA to "figurehead the future government in the Union Territory with the support of the saffron camp". A close observer of national politics claimed that if any such deal comes to fruition, it can only happen after the Assembly elections, where the BJP will support the NC, in case it falls short of a majority.