SRINAGAR : Jammu and Kashmir state is heading for a major political crisis as no breakthrough has been achieved so far in government formation though different political parties are engaged in informal talks.
Political crisis may hit the state where Governor’s rule could be imposed if no political alliance is able to form the government by January 19.
This will for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that Governor’s rule will be imposed following hung assembly as no party could manage the magic 44 figure in the 87-member House.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged the largest single party
with 28 seats followed by BJP with 25, National Conference (NC) 15 and Congress 12.
Peoples Conference (PC) headed by former separatist turned mainstream leader Sajjad Gani Lone had two, Communist Party of India (M) and Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) one each and Independent three.
The NC, Congress and CPI(M), PDF and one Independent Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid have offered unconditional support to the PDP to form the government to keep the BJP away. However, the PDP has yet to respond the offer saying it wanted a government that could deliver and meet the aspirations of the people of the state, who came out in large numbers to vote so that
their all issues are resolved.
The BJP which had been insisting that the next chief minister should be from the saffron party has softened its stand after it found no takers, without which reaching the magical figure of 44 was impossible.
The Congress has already announced that it cannot go with the BJP while the NC said it will not join the government with saffron
party. However, PC has extended its support of two members to the BJP.
No formal talks with any party, including the BJP or Congress has been initiated, chief spokesperson of the PDP Nayeem Akhtar told.
He said the situation was still very grim and efforts were being made to achieve a breakthrough before the end of the deadline.
About the grand alliance between the PDP, Congress and NC, an idea floated by former chief minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mr Akhtar said this has been rejected by the NC.
“We have heard about the NC being ready to support us through electronic media only as no concrete proposal have come,” he said, adding that “we cannot deny the fact the people voted against the NC-Congress alliance in the state”. He confirmed that informal talks were on with the other political parties on government formation. But, he said, no breakthrough has been achieved so far. When asked if formal talks with any political party has been started as reported in the media, Mr Akhtar said no such talks were going on. “We are holding informal talks, which is true,” he said, adding that “we cannot compromise on the promises made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir when we sought votes from them.”
On being questioned if the new government headed by PDP will be in place before the deadline of January 19, the PDP chief spokesperson said nothing can be said. He said the party have take into consideration the verdict of people in all the three regions of the state. “It is true that we got 28 seats in Kashmir valley and Jammu but draw blank in Ladakh, where the Congress won three and one Independent was elected to the 12th House.”
The BJP got 25 seats all in Jammu region and draw blank in Kashmir valley and Ladakh region though their vote percentage is more than any political party.
When asked to comment on the BJP’s climb down from its earlier stand about Chief Minister from the party, Mr Akhtar said these issues come only when there are formal talks. “We are not engaged in formal talks with any party,” he said.
(AGENCIES)
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