Hectic political activity began in Jammu & Kashmir after Governor NN Vohra summoned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and State BJP chief Sat Paul Sharma separately to discuss issues related to Government formation on Tuesday.
The two leaders held meetings in Jammu and Srinagar with legislators and leaders of their respective parties on the emerging political situation in the embattled State that is under Governor’s Rule since January 8.
The PDP-BJP alliance is facing a rough time since Mehbooba Mufti refused to take over as Chief Minister after Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s death on January 7. Initially, the reluctance was attributed to Mehbooba being grief-stricken at her father and political mentor’s demise, but on January 31 she clarified that there were issues plaguing the functioning of the alliance that ruled the State for 10 months under the Mufti.
Mehbooba described her party’s decision to align with the BJP as “courageous but unpopular” while seeking fresh assurance from the BJP on addressing “core political and economic issues confronting the State”.
This is the first time that the PDP has indicated that its alliance with the BJP is in trouble though the party is not commenting about walking away from the alliance. The PDP has already described the Agenda of Alliance as a “sacred document” and vowed to adhere to its implementation. The Agenda of Alliance was framed before the two parties entered into an unprecedented tie-up in J&K.
On Monday, Mehbooba held a detailed meeting with the party’s legislators at her Gupkar Road residence. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mufti’s confidant and former Minister Naeem Akhtar said party legislators have authorised Mehbooba to convey the viewpoint of the party to the Governor on Government formation. This was the first legislative Party meeting of the PDP. There was no discussion on electing the legislative Party leader, a pre-requisite for Government formation.
Sources said the lawmakers told Mehbooba that they would follow any decision, including breaking the alliance and calling for fresh polls in the State.
However, Mehbooba
clarified to the legislators that she has not toughened her stance on Government formation nor have any preconditions been set.
“We (PDP and BJP) have settled everything in the Agenda of Alliance. We want time-bound implementation of the Agenda and core political and economic issues must be addressed,” a legislator quoted Mehbooba as saying.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s core group also held a meeting in winter capital Jammu to discuss its strategy in the wake of the PDP’s latest remarks and the Governor’s summon for
discussions on Government formation.
The meeting was held at BJP general secretary Ashok Kaul’s residence and the party’s senior leaders Jugal Kishore (MP), Nirmal Singh (former Deputy Chief Minister), Kavinder Gupta (Assembly Speaker) Bali Bhagat (legislator) and Narender Singh attended the meeting besides Sat Paul Sharma.
Sharma said that a group of State leaders is also in New Delhi to discuss the political situation with the party’s central leadership.
Avinash Rai Khanna, who is in-charge of J&K affairs of the BJP, said the party would open its cards only after the PDP reveals its intentions on continuation of the alliance. He said the alliance between the PDP and BJP has been framed on a developmental agenda.