Cong J& K leaders to meet today

The Congress policy and planning group for Jammu and Kashmir, headed by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, discussed the political situation in the state and decided to hold deliberations with local leaders in Kashmir on Tuesday.

The group’s meeting at the residence of Dr Singh came amid reports that feelers have been sent by the PDP to the Congress

for an alliance to form a government. “The party will hold a meeting of its legislators in the state in Srinagar tomorrow and discuss the way forward,” said Ambika Soni, Congress general secretary in charge of the state.

The Congress has been in a wait and watch mode in the state after Governor’s Rule was imposed following the BJP’s decision to pull out of its alliance with the PDP.

The 87- member Assembly, with a magic figure of 44, has 12 Cong MLAs, 28 PDP MLAs, 15

National Conference MLAs and 25 BJP legislators. The Congress group which met in Delhi included senior Congress leaders Karan Singh, P. Chidambaram and Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir.

In its first reaction after the fall of the PDP- BJP government on June 19, the Congress had said that it wants elections in the state and the Assembly should be dissolved. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had ruled out an alliance with the PDP. Sources said no party MLA wants to go in for elections in the near future as the term of the Jammu and Kashmir state Assembly ends only in December 2020. Sources said that the Congress, as of now, cannot be seen doing business with the PDP as it was critical of the Mehbooba Mufti government. Also, such a move will upset the Congress’ present ally the National Conference.

When asked about any possible alliance between Congress and the PDP, National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said, “Mr Azad has refuted all such rumours then there is nothing more to say about it.”

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that she was amused at media speculation about the possibility of her party cobbling up a coalition with the Congress to form a new government.