Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 29: Amidst no headway in formation of Government even after six days of declaration of Assembly election results, BJP Core Group met here this evening under the chairmanship of party general secretary Ram Madhav and claimed that it was close to touch the figure of 30 with the support of five Independent MLAs.
In another development, BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma will meet Governor NN Vohra here on January 1 to brief him on the latest political developments and party’s stand on formation of new Government in the State.
BJP sources said the party Core Group met at Vijaypur this evening to discuss party’s efforts aimed at Government formation with the support of other political parties and Independents.
Madhav, who had been instrumental in initiating and giving momentum to BJP’s efforts to form first ever party Government in the State, reportedly told the Core Group members that the BJP would form its Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Asserting that it was not the BJP, which was contacting others for support, he reportedly said two major political parties (an indication towards PDP and NC) were in touch with the BJP for formation of the Government.
“Two parties are in touch with us for Government formation. We are exploring all options. A decision will be taken shortly,’’ he reportedly said in the meeting of the Core Group.
He is said to have claimed that the BJP was close to touching the figure of 30 in the Assembly. BJP had won 25 seats while there were 7 Others and Independents. The BJP was claiming support of five Independent candidates. He also said that the BJP would like the Jammu Chief Minister at the helm of affairs.
The Core Group of the State BJP comprised Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP MP from Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang, Jugal Kishore, state president, Shamsher Singh, Ashok Khajuria, Dr Nirmal Singh, Kavinder Gupta, Bali Bhagat, Rajiv Jasrotia and Ashok Koul. However, Dr Jitendra Singh, Chhewang and Dr Nirmal Singh couldn’t make it to the meeting.
Party sources told the Excelsior that the Core Group meeting discussed political developments of past six days after declaration of Assembly results on December 23 in which the BJP emerged as major political force with 25 seats and future strategy to be adopted by the party.
Sources said Ram Madhav told the Core Group members that the BJP was all set to form first ever Government in Jammu and Kashmir and that the party’s tally was touching 30 with the support of five Independent candidates.
Madhav later had one-to-one dinner meeting with RSS Incharge Jammu and Kashmir Romesh Puppa.
BJP sources said formation of the new Government in the State can take eight to 10 days. The BJP will form Government on three issues of national sovereignty, regional balances and development. They said the talks were on with two parties-PDP and NC for formation of the new Government.
Meanwhile, BJP president Jugal Kishore will meet Governor NN Vohra on January 1 and hold inter-action with him on formation of the Government.
Mr Kishore will apprise the Governor about latest political developments, the BJP’s stand on Government formation and initiatives being taken in this regard.
Vohra had invited PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and BJP president Jugal Kishore, the leaders of two largest political parties in the State for consultations on the formation of new Government. Mehbooba will be meeting the Governor on December 31.
Meanwhile, Ram Madhav tonight met some RSS functionaries to discuss latest developments in the State. Madhav had been in the RSS before being deputed to the BJP.
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