Abandoning Kashmir

BJP-PDP divorce smacks of political opportunism

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been thrown once again into political uncertainty, as the Bharatiya Janata Party unceremoniously abandoned its alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party, leaving the latter without a majority in the state assembly and forcing Mehbooba Mufti to tender her resignation as the chief minister. It remains unclear what the future holds. The principal opposition party, the National Conference (NC), has called for new elections — but the Union government, run by the BJP, might prefer to hold off elections as long as possible. After all, the timing of the BJP's departure is strong evidence