Is Omar Abdullah's wife going to join the BJP?

Bhartiya Janata Party's top leadership has been trying to avoid queries on whether Payal Singh, wife of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, is joining the party.

Omar and Payal been estranged for a while now. Payal is living separately in New Delhi at Akbar Road and is trying to find a footing in the political sphere.

Payal has already met BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on two occasions and expressed her willingness to join the party. She is reportedly keen on a party ticket from Bijnore in Uttar Pradesh, where she runs a school under the Rahat Foundation. She has been involved in rehabilitation work for the disabled there.

Abdullah, who has been trying to distance himself from his alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance during Atal BIhari Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister, is not expected to approve of Payal's political ambitions.

When asked if Payal was indeed joining the party, senior leaders of the BJP replied, "Only the party president or Payal Singh can alone answer this question".

Neither Gadkari nor Payal are willing to comment on the issue.