Party holds veto power: Jaitley
Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Dec 25: While terming the mandate given to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as historic opportunity, all the newly elected 25 MLAs today unanimously raised pitch for formation of BJP-led Government, in their meeting with Central observers and emphatically stated that the party should explore all possibilities for Government formation along with other regional parties.
These views were aired by the MLAs, who had been summoned by Central leadership for holding parleys over the issue of election of chief of Legislature party and also to ascertain their views about exploring the possibility of Government formation with the two regional parties — People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC).
BJP’s Parliamentary Board had deputed four senior leaders of the party including Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, party general Secretary, Ram Madhav, Union Minister of State for PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh and Arun Singh. The Central leadership interacted with each legislators on one to one basis and ascertained their views over the issues confronting the party and the deliberations continued for nearly three hours at Hari Niwas Hotel.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that all the discussion with legislators focussed on three basic issues — whether the party should form Government, which is a preferred alliance partner — National Conference or PDP and thirdly who should be Chief of Legislature party.
“All the Legislators in a single voice demanded that the party should lead the Government and explore the best possible option of tie-up with other regional parties. As far as election of leaders of Legislature party is concerned, the party should elect a leader that is mutually acceptable to most of the leaders and avoid any controversy at this stage”, party sources said.
As the deliberations concluded, the party leader passed a resolution authorising the party President, Amit Shah for electing a suitable Legislature party leader and working out the modalities for forging a suitable alliance for Government formation in the State.
Meanwhile, there were persistent reports that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today held hush hush parleys with the ruling BJP leadership in New Delhi today morning. Though Omar and BJP party general secretary, Ram Madhav quickly denied reports of any such meeting, there were sufficient hints indicating that the meeting had taken place.
Reacting to the development, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav tweeted, “news about BJP leaders meeting NC leadership in Delhi is baseless”.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is in New Delhi today also cleared the air and tweeted, “all the camera crews outside my residence are going to be disappointed, when I reach Srinagar tomorrow, having met no one ‘interesting’ here in New Delhi”.
However, former Union Minister and BJP Spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain confirmed to a national TV channel, “the meeting took place but refused to reveal any further details. We met and there have been talks and since there have been talks, they will continue in the long run, (Ab Milen hain to baat hui hai, aur baat hui hai to dur talak jaegi)”, he said.
Late night, Omar Abdullah in his tweet further clarified, “so many stories doing the rounds about a BJP NC deal. Let me say this as strongly as possible that there is no deal nor any discussion is going on”.
“I hope someone from the PDP,BJP,Cong steps up & forms a government in the State quickly. Denying stupid rumours is fast becoming a full time job”, he added further.
After interacting with the State Legislators, Jaitley, Dr Jitendra Singh and Arun Singh left for New Delhi while as party general secretary, Ram Madhav headed towards the summer capital to hold discussions with party leaders in Srinagar. He is also likely to interact with leaders from other political parties.
Against the backdrop of a highly fractured verdict, the saffron party was evaluating all possible combination of a prospective government in the State. BJP, the second largest party with 25 members in the 87-strong Assembly has been exploring the option of tying up with NC, which has 15 MLA or the PDP, which has emerged as the single largest party with 28 MLAs.
Earlier, in the winter capital, Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, BJP’s Central observer for J&K told reporters, “the party has several options in government-formation in the State and holds the “veto power” in the state. Besides, the party was also was actively in touch with independent and “unattached” MLAs.”
“Whoever forms the government, BJP must have a crucial role in it,” he said, adding, “earlier, the veto power was in the hands of Congress and now it’s in the hands of BJP”.
Addressing the media after a meeting of newly-elected BJP MLAs, Jaitley said the legislators authorised party President Amit Shah to decide the future course of action on government formation.
Without revealing the party strategy, the party leader said, “all options are open for us. The newly-elected MLAs of the party have decided that they will go with the decision of the party president Amit Shah who will take a decision which is good for the party, the state and the country,” he said.
On a question whether BJP would go with National Conference or Peoples Democratic Party, Jaitley said “we will go with the three principles–strengthening national sovereignty, development of this region and maintenance of regional balance.”
Jaitley described as “inaccurate” media reports that BJP leadership had held discussions with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on government-formation. “Some inaccurate reports have appeared in this regard and I would only urge you not to go by the reports which are not accurate,” Jaitley said.
He said even though PDP has got maximum number of seats in the assembly, BJP got the popular vote as its vote percentage was greater as compared to other parties. “The mandate is for a hung assembly but elections are held for the formation of the government. The newly-elected party members of the legislative assembly discussed the issue…. Like what type of Government can be formed in a hung assembly, who will lead the party in the assembly,” Jaitley said.
He said the newly-elected MLAs reached a consensus that the central leadership of the party, led by Amit Shah, would take the final decision on these issues.
Meanwhile, fissures have surfaced among the NC as several of its leaders have opposed any sort of formal alliance with BJP as their party had strong fundamental differences with the latter.
A senior NC leader said that there was virtually no possibility of the party tying up with BJP which is keen to have its own Chief Minister that would result in the only Muslim-majority state having its first non-Muslim head of government.
“Options of bridging the divide between the Jammu division which has overwhelmingly voted for BJP and the Kashmir Valley which has opted for PDP, NC and Congress have to be explored. That explains contacts between us and BJP but the NC would not compromise on its basic principles,” the leader said.
Former Minister and second time MLA, Aga Syed Ruhullah, a prominent Shia leader said “we are not in favour of an alliance with the BJP. I have made my opinion known to the party leadership in this regard.” He, however, said he had only apprised Omar today morning about his views and not written any formal letter.
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