Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) hasn’t called its Legislature Party meeting so far as senior party leaders maintained that party president Mehbooba Mufti was yet to come to terms in the wake of her father and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death even as the BJP held a meeting here today, attended among others by party general secretary Ram Madhav, and reiterated its stand that the PDP has to take first call on formation of new Government.
Then Education Minister in Mufti Sayeed led PDP-BJP Government, Naeem Akhter told the Excelsior that the PDP hasn’t called its Legislature Party meeting so far to elect the party leader after the death of Mufti Sayeed.
“Our party leader (Mehbooba Mufti) is yet to come to the terms after losing her father. She has not consulted any party leaders so far on formation of new Government and election of Legislature Party leader,’’ Akhter said, adding she was yet to seek advice from the party leaders on formation of the new Gove-rnment.
Akhter, who was spokesman of the previous PDP-BJP coalition Government, maintained that formal process for formation of new Government was yet to start.
“The process could take some more time,’’ he said dropping enough hints that formation of the new Government could take more time.
“This is not the question of time frame (for formation of the new Government) but Mehbooba Mufti ji is not in the state of mind, where Government formation can be discussed with her due to shock,’’ Naeem Akhter said.
Earlier in the day, PDP chief spokesman Dr Mehboob Beg had claimed that the PDP coalition with BJP will continue on the basis of ‘Agenda of Alliance’ formed between the two previous coalition partners but didn’t give any time frame for formation of the Government.
Meanwhile, top BJP leadership met at former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh’s residence this evening after the arrival of BJP national general secretary, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir Affairs, Ram Madhav and party national vice president Avinash Rai Khanna, here from New Delhi.
All top party leaders including Dr Nirmal Singh, State unit president Sat Sharma, CA, MPs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Shamsher Singh Manhas, former Ministers, MLAs/MLCs and senior office bearers attended the meeting that last about two hours.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Avinash Rai Khanna denied any differences between the two former coalition partners—PDP and BJP but made it clear that the process for Government formation can be set into motion only once the PDP elects its Legislature Party leader.
“Let the PDP open its cards. Let the PDP elect its Legislature Party leader. We will respond,’’ Khanna said.
BJP State unit president Sat Sharma, CA, said there was no direct communication between PDP and BJP on Government formation as the PDP had to take first step by electing its Legislature Party leader and inform Governor NN Vohra of their decision.
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