The option of forming a PDP-BJP government, is being seriously considered. An BJP-PDP alliance would have 53 seats in 87 member assembly.

Governor NN Vohra’s initiative of asking the PDP and the BJP, the parties with the highest and second highest seats in Jammu and Kashmir, to meet him in order to discuss their proposals to form the next government is indicative of the Centre’s conviction that a popular elected government must assume office before the term of outgoing assembly expires in less than three weeks.

There have been many instances when a fractured verdict of this kind saw the imposition of President's rule in the state and the Assembly has been kept in suspended animation. Delhi is the the most recent example. But this option is not on radar for J&K.

Imposition of President's rule, even if for a brief period while parties explore possibilities of getting the numbers to form a government, would offset the gains made nationally and internationally by conducting a free and fair election in the state, that too in most among the most difficult conditions following the floods.

A senior BJP leader told Firstpost, “Let us be clear that Jammu and Kashmir’s situation is different from rest of the country. The option of President Rule and keeping assembly in suspended animation is ruled out."

"Our view is clear that a popularly elected government must assume office at the earliest. Voters have given a mandate, which is fractured but has an inherent message for us. We are committed to give good governance to the people, as was outlined by Modiji during election campaign. We are therefore talking to stakeholders and hope to arrive at a conclusion soon,” the leader said on condition of anonymity.

While Omar Abdullah’s unconditional offer of support to PDP was surprising, it was soon dismissed as a googly. Omar thus couldn’t get the desired impact, at least for now.

Interestingly, despite Omar’s public overture to the PDP, sources insist that the possibility of an agreement between the BJP and National Conference is still there. BJP leaders say it was very clear in the minds of party leadership and the J&K party unit that they must be in the government.

From Amit Shah’s earlier stated position of three options before the party, the BJP is now working on just two – the first, explore all possibilities to form a government with a BJP leader as CM; and second, if that option does not achievable then form an alliance with the PDP. Both the options are being concurrently explored. The BJP sees this opportunity as "golden".

While exploring the first option, the BJP is counting on some independent MLAs and the NC. While that may be difficult given the nature of mandate and given the state’s sensitivities, it has been advised to keep away from engineering a split in the ranks of NC or the Congress, and BJP leaders are still exploring possibility of leading the government. The BJP is also not apologetic about negotiating with the NC, which was decisively rejected by the people.

A party leader drew a parallel with 2002 when the NC got the highest number of seats, 28, but sat in the opposition benches. The PDP and Congress had then come together to deny the NC a chance. The Congress-PDP alliance broke before the 2008 elections and post-elections Congress aligned with National Conference to keep PDP out.

"The Congress’s era of playing chess board games are over. We are conscious of the nature of mandate and our responsibilities. Providing stable government is priority and to that effect nothing should be ruled out," a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.

The second option, of forming a PDP-BJP government, is being seriously considered. An BJP-PDP alliance would have 53 seats in 87 member assembly. There is no other jod-tod needed and if the arrangement works, the state will have a stable government. While the Jammu region decisively voted for the BJP, the Kashmir valley voted decisively for the PDP. There could be a backlash if either of the two parties is kept out of power.

The problem boils down to a simple issue – who will be chief minister of the state, a Hindu from Jammu (BJP) or a Muslim from Kashmir valley (PDP)? A BJP-PDP alliance means that Mufti Mohammad Syed will be chief minister and the BJP can get the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. Though the BJP will try to drive a hard bargain for the chief minister's tenure to be evenly split between the two parties, three years each for the PDP and BJP, it wouldn’t be a stumbling block.

The negotiations, albeit informal, are on and will go on. What actually matters is when and with what conditions PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah take a decisionl. The situation is slightly fluid at the moment. Once an decision to align with the PDP or otherwise is taken, other things will fall in line. The dissenting voices in the PDP are said to have reconciled with an alliance with the BJP. They are now talking of certain conditions that have to be agreed on while negotiating. But that’s true for both sides.

"Hamare dono haath me laddu hai, kewal sahi samay aur saathi ka intajar hai (we have laddoos in both hands, it's just a matter of time the wait for a partner)", a senior BJP functionary said. The BJP would like to begin the new year on a happy note and the decision on match making decision will be taken only after 1 January.