SRINAGAR: With three weeks left for the expiry of deadline for the formation of next government in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was yet to respond to Congress and National Conference (NC) unconditional support though it has held initial round of talks with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Meanwhile, there is no proposal of a meeting between Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, patron of PDP, which has emerged as the largest single party with 28 seats in the hung assembly, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on government formation in near future, chief spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar told UNI. Though the deadline for the formation of the next government is January 17, Governor N N Vohra has written letters to PDP and BJP, which is second with 25 seats in the 12th assembly, inviting them to negotiate and find out ways to end the deadlock as no party could reach the magic figure of 44 in the 87-member House.
The NC, which has 15 seats and Congress with 12 seats, have already announced support to PDP to form the government to keep the BJP away.
An independent MLA Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid has also announced unconditional support if PDP and NC form a coalition government in the state to close doors to the saffron party.
Even former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has suggested grand alliance of secular parties-PDP, NC and Congress-in the state.
A lone Communist Party of India (M) has also favoured secular government in the state.
However, the PDP has yet to react to any offer officially so far.
Yes, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav had met senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, MP from north Kashmir, twice in Srinagar, he added.
It is just the beginning and no conclusion should be drawn out of these meetings, he said, adding all options before the party are still open.
He said the party, which has emerged as the single largest party in the state because of people’s support, cannot compromise on issues raised during electioneering. There is long way to go, he said, adding any proposal from any party would be debated in the parliamentary board meeting before taking any decision.
We will consider everything in detail before reaching to any conclusion as we are not in a hurry to form the government in the state, he said.
When asked if Mr Sayeed is going to Delhi to meet Mr Modi on government formation in the state as reported in the media, Mr Akhtar said there is no such proposal. The BJP, which has failed to achieve Mission 44 plus, a target set by the saffron party before the five phased elections in the state, is exploring all possibilities to create history by heading or joining the coalition government in the state.
Senior party leader Mr Madhav, who remained in the Kashmir valley during electioneering and visited a couple of times after fractured mandate, has held meetings with Mr Baig.
The BJP leader said his party was in touch with some parties to provide a stable government in the state. He also met Peoples Conference (PC) chairman and separatist turned politician Sajjad Gani Lone, seeking his support as the party has two MLAs in the House. However, Mr Lone, who won from Handwara seat, has said his party has not decided anything about extending support to any government.
Lone had met Mr Modi shortly before elections and declared him “Big Brother”.
The BJP which claimed to have got highest vote percentage in the state got all the 25 seats in Jammu and draw totally black in two regions of Kashmir valley and Ladakh. (agencies)
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