People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is not throwing any hints to form the new Government in J&K even as speculations on the intent of the PDP and the BJP to carry forward the alliance they forged ten months ago continued unabated.
Mehbooba Mufti, who is a nod away from stepping into her late father’s shoes, continued to maintain discreet silence on the formation of Government despite resuming her responsibility as the party president. On Monday, she issued first statement after the death of her father to hail the State administration’s role in cooperating with late Mufti during his two tenures as the Chief Minister of J&K.
Sources said that on Sunday evening, Mehbooba was scheduled to discuss political matters with party leaders and legislators in an informal meeting. “Everyone got emotionally surcharged when Mehbooba referred to Mufti sahib and his contributions for the party. It was an emotional scene. It left no room for the politics to be discussed”, a legislator who attended the meeting told The Pioneer.
“It is all speculation that there is rethinking on the alliance. The Government has ceased to exist due to a constitutional situation. But the alliance exists unless the two partners or any of them decides otherwise”, he said.
Most of the PDP leaders who speak on the issue say that Mehbooba is not in proper frame of mind to lead a Government and dismiss that there could be rethinking on the alliance with BJP.
Even Opposition leader Omar Abdullah is not willing to digest that PDP was unwilling to continue the alliance with BJP.
“You have a grief stricken daughter who isn’t ready to take over just yet. All the other stuff is well crafted smoke & mirrors, nothing more,” Omar wrote on Twitter. He said there was “so much needless speculation about what is & isn’t happening in the PDP or BJP and all of it coming from people who don’t have a clue”.
Observers say that Omar Abdullah’s understanding is appropriate. “There is no significant leader in both the parties who has indicated that any controversy has erupted. In fact, no formal discussions have begun”, said a senior journalist.
“Even a comma would not be changed in the Agenda of Alliance, documented by the two parties in March last, to govern the coalition Government”, he said. “It is just a matter of time that Mehbooa would approach the BJP to send its letter of support for staking claim for the Government formation”.
Meanwhile, the budget session of the State legislature, which had been advanced to commence on January 18, will not be held now. Even as a new Government takes over, the Governor would be required to issue fresh notification for the commencement of budget session.