SRINAGAR: The stalemate continued as no agreement could be reached so far between political parties to stake the claim in the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, where fractured verdict has thrown a challenge before political parties.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party which could only help the BJP to sit in the treasury benches in the 12th House in the Muslim majority state, continued to maintain that all option before the party are open. The National Conference (NC) has ruled out support to the BJP while the Congress extended unconditional support to the PDP to keep saffron party out of power.
In the back drop of strong opposition by some party MLAs and other leaders against joining hands with the BJP, the PDP, which has emerged single largest party with 28 members, has started consultations with the legislators and other party functionaries.
The NC which has 15 members and Congress with 12 MLAs have offered unconditional support to PDP to form government in the state to keep the BJP out of power. A lone member of Communist Party of India (M), Mohammad Yousuf Targami, Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and an Independent Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid have also extended support to PDP for a secular government in the state.
The PDP maintained a silence over the support extended by NC, Congress and three other MLAs. But it admitted that it was in touch with Congress on the issue. However, if the PDP will accept the support of Congress and three other MLAs, the party still needs support of another member to reach magic figure of 44 for a simple majority. The PDP has also admitted that it was in contact with the BJP informally on the government formation issue. However, confusing statements issued by BJP leaders, particularly that next Chief Minister should be from the saffron party and power sharing for three years each, was the main hurdle in reaching out to an agreement between them (PDP-BJP).
State BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma has recently said that Chief Minister will be from his party while other senior saffron party leaders wanted to join the government in the state and create history.
After facing strong opposition from some of the elected members and other functionaries, the PDP has started consultation within the party to find a solution which could help the party to deliver on all fronts and acceptable to people who voted for them.
PPD party sources told UNI that consultation within the party over next move with regard to government formation has started.
Today consultations between the party leadership and elected members and other functionaries was held. Sources said the meeting also discussed the letter received from Governor N N Vohra who has invited the party for consultation.
The meeting discussed unconditional support offered by the Congress and three MLAs, which still is not enough to form the government, sources said adding one of the member Hakeem Yaseen has also met BJP general secretary Ram Madhav in Srinagar recently which generated debate. Sources said that Hakeem Yaseen was approached by the PDP to contest on the party ticket from Khansahib for the larger interest of the state, which was turned down by him (Hakeem).
They said majority PDP members and functionaries were in favour of a stable government which only could work without any pressure or blackmail.
About the grand alliance idea of former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, the meeting was informed that there is no concrete proposal from the NC to support the PDP government, sources said. “The party has learnt only through media that NC has extended support to us (PDP) when there is nothing in concrete form,” those who attended the meeting were informed. Sources said on the BJP offer to form an alliance government in the state, a number members and party functionaries were opposed to any move to succumb to saffron party pressue who wanted its chief minister or power share for three years.
This was the main hurdle in reaching out an agreement with the BJP in government formation as PDP wanted Mufti Mohammad Sayeed chief minister for six years. Though only informal meetings were held between PDP and BJP leaders, this issue will come up only at formal meeting, sources said.
Sources said that the meeting was informed that BJP has remained totally silent over the issue of Article 370 during electioneering in Assembly elections in the state when the party used to raise this issue at all forums besides election in the country.
About resolving the Kashmir issue, the BJP has never said it was against finding solution to all issues, including Kashmir, with Pakistan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his election meetings, has made it clear that Centre will provide all relief and rehabilitation package to flood affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP, which has set up a target of Mission 44 + before the elections draw blank in Kashmir, winning all the 25 seats in Jammu.
However, PDP and BJP also draw blank in Ladakh region, where three Congress and a NC supported independent also made it to 12th House.
“Although we emerged single largest party, but we cannot deny the fact that the vote share of the BJP was more than any other political party in the state, PDP Chief Spokespersons Nayeem Akhtar said. We did not receive full support from the people in Kashmir,” he said adding the results were much below then we expected. Akhtar said, “We are not in a hurry to form the government like Omar Abdullah who went to Delhi next morning after results were declared in 2008 when the NC got 28 seats to form a government with the support of Congress with only one agenda to remain in power for six years. Mr Abdullah did not demand any political, economic and constitutional package for the people of the Jammu and Kashmir as he has only one agenda to remain Chief Minister for six years, Aktar said.
This, he said, will not be the case for PDP. “We do not want to form the government for power to lead a luxury life. We want a stable government which could deliver on all fronts,” he added.
“We cannot dilute our stand on different issues adding the promises made by the party in the election manifesto, including finding a solution to the Kashmir issue will be part of our demand before entering into any alliance with any party,” he added.
He said fractured verdict by the people has posed a very serious challenge to political parties in the state. Akhtar said, “BJP got overwhelming support from the people of Jammu, Congress emerged winner in Ladakh and we, the PDP got majority seats in Kashmir and few seats elsewhere in the state.” Even a week after the results in all the 87 constituencies were declared, people, who rejected the separatist boycott call and overwhelmingly participated in the democratic process, are concerned over the delay in government formation.
However, there are still about three weeks left for the formation of the government in the state before Governor’s rule could be imposed if no political combination would come forward by January 17.
The NC and Congress have already ruled out any alliance with the BJP. However, the party is now banking on the response from the PDP which is also in a dilemma as besides senior party leaders, people who voted for the party (PDP) are opposed to any alliance with the saffron party. All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has also supported PDP-BJP government in the state. The Sikh organisation has asked members of the community to vote for PDP and against Congress and NC candidates in the state.
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