Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 30: The BJP today reviewed the situation on Government formation in the State during three separate meetings of the Party which were convened by national vice president and Party Prabhari J&K, Avinash Rai Khanna.
Khanna, who reached here early this morning convened the meetings of Party’ s Core Group followed by meeting with office bearers and legislators to ascertain their views on latest political developments in the State and future course of action regarding formation of coalition Government headed by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.
Khanna after ascertaining the views of Party leaders and legislators one by one will apprise them to Party High Command in New Delhi and discuss the minutes of meeting with Party national general secretary and architect of PDP-BJP coalition in the State, Ram Madhav. Later both the leaders will meet BJP national president Amit Shah and discuss the issue with him.
However, the Party High Command will take the final decision on sharing of portfolios between the two coalition partners, Party sources said.
Madhav was also scheduled to attend the meetings today but due to his preoccupation with Assam elections and delay in flight he had to cancel his visit.
Before leaving for Union capital, Khanna told reporters that the meetings were not held to discuss the Government formation but about the organizational programme like forthcoming Sathapana Divas of the Party, State Executive meet and Dr Ambdedkar’s birthday. He parried all questions over delay in Government formation and said that State president will report about the same.
BJP Legislature Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister designate Dr Nirmal Singh also told reporters that there was no differences on the sharing of portfolios with PDP. He said the Party discussed the organizational matters and coming programmes like State Executive meet, Jan Vishwas Yatra etc and turned down that there were any differences with coalition partner.
Speaking to media, BJP president Sat Sharma said that there was no controversy over the portfolios. He said regarding oath ceremony things will be clear within one or two days as the leaders of two coalition partners are likely to meet within one or two days to discuss the modalities for the same.
When asked, whetger BJP was waiting for auspicious days of Navratra, Sharma said he is an RSS ideologue and for RSS every day is auspicious. He said “we have already extended letter of support to PDP and both parties are going to form the coalition Government for the larger interests of the people of the State and for restoration of peace and development of all the three regions.”
However, according to sources, there was a general feeling among the party legislators that BJP, which has equal number of MLAs as that of PDP so it deserve the equal number of Ministries also and they conveyed this to Khanna in the meeting.
The legislators were of the view that BJP is joining the coalition for the development of all three regions of the State and restoration of peace and it is duty bound to fulfill the promises made with the people.
Sources said, however, earlier in the Core Group meeting of the party some leaders expressed concern over the controversy created on the portfolios saying that the coalition is run on mutual trust and confidence. These leaders have made it clear that by coming openly to press about the controversy over portfolios and outwitting the coalition partner will directly help the opposition parties and it will be difficult for the party to reply their queries later, they added.
These leaders were of the view that the BJP believes in performance and no Ministry is good or bad but those who are inducted as Ministers should come to the expectations of the people with their outstanding performances.
Earlier during the office bearers meeting, Khanna discussed the ongoing Jan Vishwas Yatra. He said the yatra carries great significance as its prime motive is to give wide publicity of various welfare and developmental schemes of Narendra Modi Government.
Sat Sharma informed the meeting that the schedule for Jan Vishwas Yatra at booth level across the State has been extended up to April 5.
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