SRINAGAR – India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quit the rulingcoalition in occupied Kashmir on Tuesday where violence has worsened inrecent months, the party announced.

The Hindu nationalist BJP entered into an unlikely alliance with a regionalparty, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), after an inconclusive election in2014 to govern the state.

“It has become untenable for the BJP to continue in the alliance governmentin occupied Kashmir,” Ram Madhav, party general secretary, told reporters.

BJP quit the coalition following a rift over extension in the Ramazanceasefire.

Sources said Mehbooba Mufti wanted the ceasefire to be extended, while theBJP decided against it.

The Indian government had suspensded cordon and search operations duringthe holy month of Ramazan.