Why Vajpayee has reason to smile

The unexpected electoral outcome in Jammu and Kashmir has paved the way for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to push forward with his two...

The unexpected electoral outcome in Jammu and Kashmir has paved the way for Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to push forward with his two-a-half-year-old peace initiative in the State and open fresh channels of dialogue in search of a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.

The boost to his peace plan comes from the fact that the stated position of both major players in the future state government, the Congress and the People8217;s Democratic Party, favour dialogue with separatist groups as well as Pakistan. The PDP has even said that it favours talks with militant groups.

While there were noises from the RSS today warning against talking to the militants, the presence of the Congress in the power structure in Srinagar provides Vajpayee with an opportunity to counter the hawks by forging a national consensus on both his Kashmir and Pakistan policies.

Official sources acknowledged that the PM would probably go through the route of an all-party meeting to prepare his roadmap on Kashmir. They also pointed out that the Centre would have to consult the new Congress-PDP government in Srinagar as well.

There is a strong possibility that although the Government has said it will only talk to elected MLAs, the Track II dialogue between Ram Jethmalani8217;s Kashmir Committee and the Hurriyat and other separatist groups may ultimately be merged into the Track I process under pressure from the state government.

Official circles cautioned against speculating too far ahead but it is widely known that the PMO has been keen to draw the Hurriyat and other separatists into the political mainstream, much to the annoyance of Farooq Abdullah and the National Conference.

The NC8217;s defeat weakens its stranglehold over J038;K politics, giving the PMO much-needed flexibility on its Kashmir policy.

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In fact, the way the election has panned out brings the initiative on Kashmir clearly back with the PMO, which has been of the view that there is a groundswell of desire for change in J 038; K.

Of course, it goes without saying that the biggest gain for the Government has been that the verdict reinforces its claim of a 8216;8216;free and fair poll8217;8217; in J038;K.

The results, particularly the defeat of NC chief ministerial candidate Omar Abdullah, are so unexpected that Kashmir experts in the Government were taken aback.

Although the results have been a blow to an NDA ally as well as the BJP, official circles admitted that in the larger international context, they certainly strengthen the Indian position on Kashmir vis-a-vis Pakistan.

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The high voter turnout, coupled with the impressive performance of mainstream parties like the Congress and PDP give the Government plenty of arguments to counter Pakistani claims. Not surprisingly, Vajpayee set the ball rolling in Copenhagen 8212; where he is attending the Indo-EU Summit 8212; to say, 8216;8216;The people of J 038; K have given their verdict. And the winner, clearly, is India8217;s democracy.8217;8217;

He also assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the Centre will work in 8216;8216;close cooperation8217;8217; with the elected representatives to 8216;8216;fulfill the aspirations of the people8217;8217;.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani was somewhat guarded in his reaction to the electoral verdict today, probably because of the disappointing performance of the NC and the BJP.