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Hindu nationalist party in India set to play a key role in Muslim-majority Kashmir India’s ruling party posts strong results in elections in Muslim-majority Kashmir
(about 3 hours later)
NEW DELHI — India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party is likely to play a key role for the first time in forming a coalition government in the Muslim-majority, disputed Kashmir state, following the results of local elections that were announced Tuesday. NEW DELHI — India’s ruling party is likely to play a key role for the first time in forming a coalition government in the disputed Muslim-majority region of Kashmir, after results of local elections that were announced Tuesday.
No party won a clear majority in the elections’ hung verdict on Tuesday, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took 25 seats out of a total of 87, its highest tally in the Himalayan state until now. The trouble-torn state is the site of a 25-year old armed separatist struggle against Indian rule, and has been the cause of two wars between India and Pakistan during the past six decades. No party won a clear majority in the hung verdict, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took 25 out of the 87 seats on offer, the Hindu nationalist party’s highest tally in the Himalayan region until now. Kashmir is the site of a 25-year-old armed separatist struggle against Indian rule and has been the cause of two wars between India and Pakistan.
The BJP came in second to the regional party called People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which won 28 seats in the elections that began on Nov. 25 and took place in several stages. Political pundits said the two parties are most likely to partner to form a coalition government, but first needed to iron out their fundamental differences over the manner in which the state is governed. The BJP came in second to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a regional party that won 28 seats in the elections, which began Nov. 25 and were held in several stages. Political pundits said the two parties are most likely to partner to form a coalition government but first needed to iron out fundamental differences over the manner in which Kashmir is governed.
The BJP seeks to end Kashmir's special autonomous status guaranteed under the Indian constitution; the PDP advocates self-rule and an end to the immunity given to the Indian army in its counter-insurgency operations in the state. The BJP seeks to end the special autonomous status guaranteed to Kashmir under the Indian constitution; the PDP advocates self-rule and an end to the immunity given to the Indian army in its counterinsurgency operations in the region.
“The two parties have ideological and political differences when it comes to the status and identity of Kashmir; in fact they represent the opposing sentiments in the state,” said Noor Ahmad Baba, a political analyst in Srinagar. “If the BJP agrees to set aside its Hindu politics and focus on just the development work in Kashmir, it will be good.” “The two parties have ideological and political differences when it comes to the status and identity of Kashmir; in fact they represent the opposing sentiments in the state,” said Noor Ahmad Baba, a political analyst in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state. “If the BJP agrees to set aside its Hindu politics and focus on just the development work in Kashmir, it will be good.”
Tens of thousands of people have died in the armed struggle for independence in Kashmir in over two decades. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of arming militants to stir violence in Kashmir, a region that is divided between the two nuclear-armed nations and claimed by both. Pakistan has routinely dismissed state elections and called for talks with New Delhi to resolve the dispute. Tens of thousands of people have died in the armed struggle for independence in Kashmir in more than two decades. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of arming militants to stir violence in Kashmir, which is divided between the two nuclear-armed nations and claimed by both. Pakistan has routinely dismissed state elections and called for talks with New Delhi to resolve the dispute.
Separatist groups in Kashmir boycotted the elections and militant groups attacked an Indian army camp during the campaign last week, killing 11 soldiers. Separatist groups in Kashmir boycotted the elections, and militant groups attacked an Indian army camp during the campaign last week, killing 11 soldiers.
Modi campaigned extensively in the state, underscoring his party’s bid to integrate the state into the national mainstream.Modi campaigned extensively in the state, underscoring his party’s bid to integrate the state into the national mainstream.
In his campaign, Modi pledged to rebuild the region still struggling to recover from September flooding, the worst in nearly a century, and promised to create new jobs and farm irrigation networks. In his campaign, Modi pledged to rebuild the region, which is still struggling to recover from September flooding, the worst in nearly a century, and promised to create new jobs and farm irrigation networks.
Modi swept to power nationally in May this year with an emphatic mandate to lift the sagging fortunes of Asia’s third largest economy. His party has won victories in a number of states since May. On Tuesday, the party also captured power in the eastern, mineral-rich state of Jharkhand. Modi swept to power nationally in May with an emphatic mandate to lift the sagging fortunes of Asia’s third-largest economy. His party has won victories in a number of states since then. On Tuesday, the BJP also captured power in the eastern, mineral-rich state of Jharkhand.
“The year 2014 has been a year of unprecedented success for the BJP,” said Amit Shah, the president of the BJP, at a news conference in New Delhi. “The BJP is the largest party in terms of vote share in the Jammu and Kashmir state. We have improved our tally and have emerged as a relevant force there.” “The year 2014 has been a year of unprecedented success for the BJP,” Amit Shah, the president of the party, said at a news conference in New Delhi. “The BJP is the largest party in terms of vote share in the Jammu and Kashmir state. We have improved our tally and have emerged as a relevant force there.”
The BJP’s seats came from the Hindu-dominated region of Kashmir, but Modi’s popularity appeared to stop short in the Muslim-majority valley where none of its candidates won. The BJP’s seats came from the Hindu-dominated areas of the region, but Modi’s popularity appeared to fall short in the Muslim-majority valley, where none of its candidates won.
“This is a semifinal for the valley, next time we will win in the valley also,” Prakash Javadekar, a senior minister in Modi’s government, told NDTV 24x7 news television on Tuesday. “This is a semifinal for the valley. Next time, we will win in the valley also,” Prakash Javadekar, a senior minister in Modi’s government, told NDTV 24x7 news television on Tuesday.
But Baba said that recent controversies surrounding religious conversion of Muslims and Christians by some Hindu groups allied to the BJP had “caused hesitation and discomfort to the Kashmiri Muslims in the valley.” But Baba said recent controversies surrounding religious conversion of Muslims and Christians by some Hindu groups allied to the BJP had “caused hesitation and discomfort to the Kashmiri Muslims in the valley.”