SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI, Dec 29:
As suspense over Government formation in Jammu and Kashmir continued, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said the idea of a grand alliance with National Conference and Congress was an option for forming a stable Government in the State.
“A grand alliance with PDP, National Conference and Congress as partners is also an option,” PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar told PTI.
Akhtar said it was one of the options that can be explored to form a stable Government in the State and also fulfil the aspirations of all the regions of the State.
The idea of such an alliance was mooted by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
PDP has emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats in the 87-member Assembly followed closely by BJP with 25 seats while NC bagged 15. While Congress won 12 seats, smaller parties and independents got seven seats.
No political party has been able to yet muster the support of 44 MLAs required to form the Government in the State.
Congress, NC and several independents have offered support to the PDP for Government formation.
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is slated to meet J&K Governor N N Vohra on Wednesday for discussing Government-formation.
“The meeting of Mehbooba Mufti, Member of Parliament and president of J&KPeoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the Governor has been preponed to take place on Wednesday at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu,” a Raj Bhavan spokesman said today.
In New Delhi, Congress today offered its “constructive support” in formation of a “secular Government” in Jammu and Kashmir maintaining that PDP being the single largest party has the “legal, moral and constitutional’ right to do so.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi also recounted the remarks of Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday in which she had said that since Congress did not get the mandate, others will have to form the Government.
Gandhi had just smiled and walked away when asked whether Congress will be supporting PDP, which emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections with 28 seats.
“We are here to give constructive support to any genuine secular formation,” Singhvi said, adding that Congress’ position on this issues is based on two premises — one that it has not got the mandate and that it was for others to work out how to form the Government and that the PDP being the largest party has the “legal, moral and Constitutional” right to form a Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also dismissed questions over possibility of President’s Rule in the State saying “Elections have happened just a week ago and it will be absurd to talk about President Rule.”
At the same time, he said that other parties, which have to form the Government, will have to take the initiative.
“We are always open to support (PDP) but we cannot be taking initiative on it,” the Congress spokesperson said. (PTI)
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