Congress, PDP in meetings to explore alliance in Kashmir

New Delhi: Amid intense speculation in Jammu and Kashmir that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to cobble up a new alliance in the state, a claim the party has denied, the Congress is holding a series of meetings to discuss the political situation in the troubled state and is considering whether to attempt an alliance, possibly with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The move comes after the PDPled government fell, once the BJP withdrew support on June 19.

While the Congress’ policyplanning group for Jammu and Kashmir will meet in Delhi on Monday, senior leaders, including legislators, will give their assessment of the ground situation at a meeting in Srinagar on Tuesday, state Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said.

The policy-planning group is headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and includes former finance minister P Chidambaram, senior Congress leaders Karan Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad besides party general secretary in-charge of J&K Ambika Soni.

TALKS IN DELHI

The Congress is considering whether to attempt an alliance, possibly with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sources say

The Congress’s policy-planning group for J&K will meet in Delhi on Monday to discuss the

Kashmir situation. The group is headed by former PM Manmohan Singh and includes former finance minister P Chidambaram, senior Congress leaders Karan Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad besides party general secretary in-charge of the state, Ambika Soni

A Congress leader familiar with the developments said the possibility of government formation in the state could come up for discussion at the Srinagar meet, which will also be attended by Azad and Soni.

There is apprehension in both the Congress and the PDP camps that the BJP could form a government in the state or that the central government could replace Number of additional MLAs the two parties will need if they decide to form the government. There are 3 independents and 1 MLA each of CPI-M & JKPDF

Congress MLAs Strength of the J&K assembly

Governor NN Vohra with a more hardline Governor, perhaps a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) functionary after the culmination of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage next month.

“The Centre is already ruling the state through the Governor and may try to strengthen its grip on J&K through an RSS appointee,” the leader said.

PDP MLAs MLAs needed to form the govt