No new conditions from PDP accepted on government formation: BJP
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday asserted that it has not accepted any new conditions from Peoples Democratic Party and threw the ball in Mehbooba Mufti’s court, saying her party has to make the next move for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav’s assertion came a day after Mehbooba’s meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi which she had termed as “very positive and good”, prompting speculation that their talks over government formation was back on track following months of impasse.
:We have not accepted any new condition from the PDP,” Madhav, a party’s pointsman in the state, said.
The talks between Modi and Mehbooba were cordial during which specific issues were not discussed, he said, adding that she also did not put up any condition during the meeting.
The alliance between two parties had run into rough weather following the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as his daughter Mehbooba is believed to have sought assurances from the Centre on certain political and economic issues close to her party’s agenda.
When it appeared that talks for government formation had fallen through after her unsuccessful meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah, her positive comments following the meeting with Modi were seen as a breakthrough.
Asked about prospects of government formation, Madhav said PDP has to make the next move as he noted that its legislature party is meeting on Thursday.
BJP sources said Mehbooba has been told to discuss the nitty-gritty of the alliance with the saffron party leadership. Mehbooba had announced on Tuesday that she would decide on the next course of action after the meeting.
BJP on its part has maintained that it remains committed to the “Agenda of Alliance”, a document for the alliance government agreed between the BJP and PDP then headed by Sayeed.
Madhav had last week stated that any new demand which Mehbooba has been making can be taken up by the state government with the Centre. The central government cannot give assurances to political parties, BJP sources said.
After the meeting at the prime minister’s residence, 56-yearold Mehbooba had told reporters on Tuesday it was “very positive” and “good” in addressing issues pertaining to the people of the state and that she was “very satisfied”.
To a question whether the stalemate has ended, she said, “When you meet the prime minister of the country, naturally the solution to the problems faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir is more clear”.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N. N. Vohra on Wednesday called PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and state BJP chief Sat Sharma for separate meetings with him on March 25 to discuss government formation in the state.
Vohra sent two separate communications to them to call on him at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Friday, a Raj Bhavan official said.
Vohra’s missives come barely two days after Mehbooba Mufti called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The PDP legislature party was also likely to elect its leader on Thursday who would be authorised to stake claim to form the new government in the state.
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Governor’s Rule on January 8, a day after then chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed passed away in New Delhi.
The PDP legislature party was also likely to elect its leader on Thursday who would be authorised to stake claim to form the new government in the state