Hung verdict puts NC, PDP in quandary

Srinagar, Dec 24: The fractured mandate in Jammu and Kashmir has left both NC and arch-rivals PDP caught in a cleft stick -- with second-placed BJP appearing to be their sole saviour. With 15 seats, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) is out of power, but it has an option of supporting the BJP and thereby keeping its arch-rival the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of power for the next six years. The PDP's dilemma is even bigger. With 28 seats it has fallen short of its estimated projection of getting closer to 44, the simple majority needed to form the government. The PDP's problem is also compounded by the fact that its most likely future ally, the Congress, has got just 12 seats. The two together have only 40 seats -- still short of the vaunted mark by four. The vote count of the staggered five-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir took place Tuesday.