NEW DELHI: The wipeout of several political formations across the country has given rise to BJP ’s ambitions in areas where it has hitherto hesitated to expand. One of them is Jammu and Kashmir, where the party, with some encouragement from the RSS, is exploring a tie up with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Assembly polls are due in the state in January 2015—the Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly has a six-year tenure, compared with five years elsewhere.According to top sources in the BJP, the RSS has been sounded out on the situation and has reportedly taken a positive view of the matter. In the general election, not only did the BJP and the PDP win three seats each out of the total six from the state, the PDP got a lead in 37 assembly constituencies and the BJP in 15.“Both Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti have been soft on the (BJPled) NDA alliance even before the polls and had indicated that during the Vajpayee regime, Kashmir had benefited a lot. Such an alliance will be a win-win situation for all as the people are fedup with the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance government in the state,” a senior office bearer of the party said.Both PDP leaders had been complimentary about former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his efforts to integrate Jammu and Kashmir into the national mainstream in the election campaign. “The argument by the NC and the Congress that PDP was joining communal forces would not hold water as NC had been part of the NDA alliance in the past and its criticism in this regard would stand dented,” said the person cited above.“Certain local leaders in the BJP in the state are in touch with the PDP leadership and there is a feeling among the PDP cadres that aligning with the NDA at this moment would benefit the state and would prove to be advantageous in the long run. Such a move it was felt would enable the Muftis to expand further their support base in the Valley,” said the source.Sayeed is also well regarded by those who have just come to power. “He is seen as someone who has stood by India and has never taken an anti-national stand in the past. He is a veteran and wise politician and is easy to work with and that is why there is a possibility of this alliance seeing the light of the day,” said a leader in the know.