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Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
Politicians busy with the onerous task of cobbling together a government in Jammu and Kashmir have mostly converged on three destinations in and around the summer capital Srinagar.
The city is abuzz with rumours of horse-trading, deals being struck and even of 'bags of money' changing hands.
Of late, Hotel Broadway located on Maulana Azad Road, a stone's throw from the heavily guarded but near-empty MLA's [Member of the Legislative Assembly] hostel, has become a popular watering hole for politicians.
Popular with film stars and tourists, it is today mostly filled with Congressmen. Most of the 20 newly-elected Congress legislators, including the party's chief ministerial candidate Ghulam Nabi Azad, are lodged in the hotel along with their supporters.
Throughout the day, luxury cars with tinted windows drop and pick up scores of visitors.
Supporters of People's Democratic Party president Mufti Mohammed Sayeed can also be seen loitering around the hotel premises, some sitting on the lawn near the swimming pool and talking to Congress MLAs and others.
On Thursday evening, Azad's appearance in the ground floor saw scores of Congressmen rush towards him, with many trying to whisper something in Azad's ears.
"I hope he will finally join us," Azad told one of the legislators, who responded saying, "Yes. I am in touch with him. We don't have to worry."
Azad then turned to the party's senior legislators and said, "By tomorrow afternoon, all the party workers must vacate the hotel and only our legislators should stay back. The hotel management is facing problems attending to so many people."
Addressing the crowd, he said, "I have not been able to talk to the newly-elected MLAs. We have to move fast as we now have only four days. Please give us some time. We have to work seriously. We have to concentrate."
The PDP's political moves are being plotted at Sayeed's Nowgam residence, located 7 km from Srinagar in Budgam district.
PDP insiders claim all the party's 16 MLAs are inside. Sayeed and his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, are keeping a close eye on them fearing defections.
But the real kingmakers are ensconced in the Grand Palace, the state's costliest luxury hotel.
Perched in the foothills of the Zabarwan hills, overlooking the famous Dal Lake, the hotel houses seven independent MLAs.
With the elections throwing up a hung assembly, independents have become the state's most precious political 'commodity'.
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