BJP Core Group meets again, wants some more Ministries

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 29:  Though the two alliance partners PDP and BJP have staked the claim for formation of Government before the State Governor, N N Vohra on March 26, the differences over sharing of portfolios between the two coalition partners is constantly delaying the oath taking ceremony.
According to sources, BJP is demanding more Ministries as well as lion’s share in Development Boards in lieu of surrendering the Chief Ministerial post to PDP for full term. The BJP Core Group which met here, today has again reiterated this demand and conveyed the same to PDP High Command.
After March 26, when Leader of BJP Legislature Party, Dr Nirmal Singh handed over the letter of support of his Party to Governor in presence of PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti who staked her Party’s claim to form the Government in the State, the BJP held Core Group meetings continuously for three days to discuss the modalities for Government formation and Party’s stand on Ministries.
Sources said that BJP has conveyed its decision to PDP through Party interlocutors and they are hopeful that PDP will also respond in a positive way. The BJP in lieu of Chief Ministerial post wants that Party be given some more Ministries and it also wants to head six out of eight development boards.
Sources said BJP has decided not to budge from its stand on the two demands and Party wants that it should get one more Ministry than what was held by it during the tenure of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.
Sources said that BJP National vice president and Prabhari J&K Avinash Rai Khanna on the directives of Party High Command is arriving here early tomorrow to take stock of the situation arising after the BJP’s fresh demand. Mr Madhav will also chair the Core Group meeting and ascertain the views of its members. This will be followed by another meeting of MLAs and office bearers also, sources added.
Sources said BJP National general secretary and incharge J&K Ram Madhav, who is also the architect of BJP-PDP coalition in the State, was likely to reach Jammu tomorrow to take part in the meeting. Mr Madhav is in Assam and he will fly to Union Capital where from he will straightway reach Jammu tomorrow, sources added.
Sources said some differences over the Ministries has been the main irritant for delay in oath ceremony as BJP wants that it should be compensated for surrendering the post of CM to PDP for full term. However, there has been no positive response from PDP side on the demand so far though BJP through some interlocutors has conveyed the Party stand to PDP in this regard, sources added.
The Core Group meeting which met this afternoon at Party Headquarters here was chaired by State president, Sat Sharma and among others the BJP Legislature Party leader, Dr Nirmal Singh, former State president and MLC Ashok Khajuria, Party MPs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Shamsher Singh Manhas, BJP organizational general secretary, Ashok Kaul, Party general secretaries, Dr Narinder Singh, Pawan Khajuria and Harinder Gupta also attended it. The Core Group was unanimous that Party should not budge from its stand, sources added.
Sources said that decision regarding the oath ceremony will be taken after BJP’s State Executive meeting to be held on April 2 and 3 which is likely to be attended by some senior party leaders from Delhi also.
However, some political analysts are of the view that the demand regarding portfolios should have been put by the BJP before handing over the letter of support to Governor.
Sources said even a hardliner group within BJP wants that some previous Ministers be replaced by new faces and there should also be a change in the portfolios this time.