J&K Guv invites State chiefs of BJP and PDP for talks even as both parties indulge in clandestine parleys
The National Conference (NC) on Thursday offered to support arch-rival PDP to form a Government in Jammu & Kashmir in a desperate attempt to spoil the efforts to form a PDP-BJP alliance Government, but the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led outfit virtually ignored the overtures and inched closer towards the ruling party at the Centre for stability and Central fund for development of the State. This came on the day J&K Governor NN Vohra invited State presidents of the BJP and the PDP for consultation over their plans for Government formation at the earliest.
Throughout the day, different stakeholders, including PDP, BJP, NC and Congress explored different permutations and combinations for stitching alliances, but the possibility of a PDP-BJP tie-up is gaining ground. However, sources said that a section of the PDP leaders are not happy with the idea of embracing the BJP and are insisting on a possible alliance with the Congress.
While the NC has tried to confuse the PDP by repeatedly offering support to keep the BJP out of power, the PDP said that they have not received any formal offer from the NC. Some reports said that the NC legislators have shot a letter to the PDP leadership, which was denied by the outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “looks like PDP is playing mind games with the BJP leaking about a letter of NC support that doesn’t exist. Only a verbal offer conveyed” Omar Abdullah tweeted on Friday evening.
But on the face of it was Omar who seemed to be playing the mind game and trying to create an impression that he was ready to go to any extent to keep the BJP at bay. Even if the NC did not send a formal letter of support, several leaders of the party went on record extending support to the PDP. For example, NC general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said that his party is firm on offering support to the PDP for Government formation. He, however, said that the PDP is hobnobbing with the BJP to enter into an alliance.
“The reality is that PDP is ready for alliance with the BJP and for this its leaders Muzaffar Husain Beigh and Nizamuddin Bhat held several secret meetings with BJP leadership in Delhi,” Sagar said. Newly elected National Conference MlA from Nagrota DS Rana, also a close aide of Omar Abdullah, issued a statement extending unconditional support to the PDP. But PDP sources dismissed these offers as a political ploy to prevent their party from doing business with the BJP. “We know the reality of these offers, we are not taking them seriously,” said a senior PDP leader.
PDP chief spokesman Nayeem Akhtar said, “NC has neither sent a written nor verbal offer to us. They say it in the media only. They didn’t approach us. Had they we would have deliberated on it.” Akhtar also said there has been no formal offer from the BJP over the issue till now. “We have not received any formal offer from the BJP and if there is one, we will deliberate on it,” he said. About BJP general secretary Ram Madhav’s talks with PDP leaders, he said, “It was an informal talk. But I appreciate Madhav’s statement where he said Mufti Muhammad Sayeed is a national leader and BJP holds him in high esteem.”
On its part, the BJP continued its ground work in Srinagar. Its main emissary Ram Madhav admitted that he met a host of NC and PDP leaders to explore Government formation. He said the talks were “positive but didn’t reach the final conclusion”. Talking to reporters at Srinagar International Airport before leaving for New Delhi, Madhav said that he met several leaders while exploring options to form a stable Government in Jammu & Kashmir. “The issue is not whom we are comfortable with. The issue is how to ensure a stable Government that can deliver and address the problems of people. There has to be a Government that can do some good for the State.” Madhav said.
He refused to divulge details about the discussions and the names of leaders he met. Asked whether the issue of rotating Chief Minister or nominating someone from Jammu to lead the coalition was discussed, he said that the discussions did not reach to that level. “The discussions haven’t reached the final conclusion,” he said.
Indicating that the BJP wants major share in power, he said, “Yes, we have got a big mandate in the State and our vote share is huge. But I would again say talks haven’t reached a stage where we could discuss who would be Chief Minister,” he said. Sources said that Madhav on Thursday evening met PDP MP Muzaffar Beigh and on Friday afternoon arrived at Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s residence. However, no PDP leader confirmed the meeting between Madhav and Mufti. PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said that informal talks were on, but they have not taken a concrete shape.