After prolonged parleys in the Valley and Jammu over the issue of formation of a Government in Jammu & Kashmir, now all eyes are set on the crucial meeting between BJP president Amit Shah and the core group of the State unit in New Delhi on Monday. The party chief is expected to brief the core group of the State BJP leaders and seek their feedback over the recent political developments.
The meeting, which is taking place against the backdrop of the recent round of preliminary discussion between one of the trusted lieutenants of PDP patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed and BJP leaders in New Delhi, has assumed greater significance here in the corridors of power. Senior BJP leader lK Advani too is learnt to have spoken to Mufti Mohd Sayeed to break the ice.
Though the PDP is facing some internal strife over joining hands with the BJP, the party leadership is keen on respecting the mandate of the people of the State and fulfil the responsibility of leading the coalition after drafting a common minimum programme of the new Government.
Though BJP leaders have been claiming that they are talking to both the regional parties — the National Conference (NC) and the PDP — former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has denied reports of any formal discussion between him or his father Farooq Abdullah and BJP leaders.
BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, who has been holding talks exploring ways to form a coalition Government, is expected to attend the Monday meeting at party headquarters in New Delhi. Madhav had earlier chaired a meeting of the core group of the J&K unit in Jammu ahead of meeting the Governor on December 30.
The BJP core group comprises State party chief Jugal Kishore Sharma, MoS in PMO Jitendra Singh, Nirmal Singh, former State chiefs — Ashok Khajuria, and Shamsher Singh Manhas — State general secretaries — Bali Bhagat, and Kavinder Gupta — and State organising secretary Ashok Kaul.
Before leaving for New Delhi, newly elected BJP MlA from Billawar and member of the national executive Nirmal Singh said, “The BJP leaders have been invited by the party chief to attend meeting in New Delhi on Monday.”
He said that since the national leadership of the party was holding discussion with different political players in the State, it is expected that they may be briefed about the discussion held so far and further talks may be held for future course of action.
Singh also claimed that since the BJP has received mandate from the people of the State to join the Government, parlyes are going at different levels to form a Government at the earliest.