Congress redoubles efforts to keep BJP out of power even as PDP still in quandary over Govt formation
In the mid of confusion over Government formation in Jammu & Kashmir after December 23 fractured verdict, the Congress has intensified efforts to persuade the PDP to form a coalition Government with it to keep the BJP at bay. As part of its efforts, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and offered his party’s support for the formation of new Government.
Singh’s call is significant because he had played a pivotal role in cobbling up a PDP-Congress alliance in 2002 when Mufti’s party bagged 16 seats for the first time. Then Singh had visited Mufti’s residence twice as Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s emissary and sealed the deal to form a coalition Government.
But so far Mufti has kept his cards close to his chest and has adopted a wait-and-watch policy. In political circle, while various permutations and combinations are being explored, a possible tie-up between the PDP and the BJP continues to top the list despite several pre-condition laid by the PDP.
The National Conference (NC) has virtually opted out of the race after outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flew off to london. His verbal offer to extend support to the PDP did have no effect as the PDP sought written proposals for discussion.
The Congress has 12 MlAs and has not given up its efforts to keep the BJP out of power. Three MlAs — CPM’s MY Tarigami, Awimi Ittehad party chief Engineer Rashid, and Hakim Yasin — have already offered their support to form a non-BJP Government.
This time, Mufti is powerful with 28 seats and the NDA Government at the Centre, unlike in 2002, is stronger and assertive. The biggest difference between 2002 and 2014 is that the BJP has emerged as second largest party with 25 MlAs for the first time in the history of Jammu & Kashmir.
The PDP is in the driver’s seat due to maximum numbers it got plus the faulty mandate the BJP received. The BJP rising on Modi wave only captured Jammu province without bagging a single seat from Kashmir valley or ladakh.
Sources said that PDP has sent its proposals to the BJP leadership through a BJP emissary who met a host of leaders in Kashmir last week. The proposals inter alia included full-term Chief Ministership to Mufti, safeguards to Article 370 and assurance on forward movement in addressing internal and external dimensions of Kashmir issue. This included initiation of dialogue process with separatists and Pakistan and increasing people-to-people contact between the divided parts of Jammu & Kashmir held each by India and Pakistan.
Sources said the BJP’s top leadership has not responded to the proposals. Observers say that the BJP also will not succumb Mufti’s diktats to compromise on its basic outlook on Kashmir. “If there is no flexibility on both sides, the impasse can prolong and even take an unpleasant turn,” said Mudassir Ahmad, a political observer.
The PDP sources said that the option of tying up with Congress and others has not been completely ruled out. Interestingly, the PDP’s newly elected legislators and party’s political working committee headed by president Mehbooba Mufti has not met since the results were declared on December 23.
“The PDP’s major decisions are taken by Mufti Sayeed himself. The others only endorse the decisions,” said a keen political observer. “I am lori dastar (rubber stamp) president of the party. All decisions are taken by Mufti Sahib himself and later conveyed to me,” Mehbooba Mufti told The Pioneer some time back in an interview.”