NC awaits ally offer response from PDP
National Conference (NC) on Monday reiterated its offer of support to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it is expecting a response from the latter.
NC spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu said: “PDP has not formally said no to our offer. Our offer of support continues.” He said if the PDP turns down the offer, the NC would sit in the Opposition. He said: “We will play the role of a credible Opposition” and clarified that his party was not in negotiation with the BJP.
Mattu said NC could be a natural ally given the stand taken by the PDP leadership against national parties during the election campaign. He said PDP-BJP alliance would not be in good taste for the state. “If PDP wants to join hands with BJP, good luck to them. But the question is how will PDP deal with various issues and how will this arrangement work?” he asked.
The spokesman said there was consensus in his party on supporting the PDP. He said: “It is a fact one of our members Aga Ruhullah wrote to the party wherein he opposed any alliance with the BJP. We cannot term his letter as revolt in the NC as we have offered support to the PDP, not to the BJP.”
Mattu said all 15 party members have arrived at a consensus over tie-up with the NC. He said that the onus to form the government lies with the PDP as it is the single largest party and then, it is responsibility of the BJP.
Meanwhile, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah and working president Omar Abdullah, in a statement from London, have authorised party general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, provincial president Jammu Devender Singh Rana and spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu to speak on behalf of the party on policy issues, including post-Assembly polls strategy and the party’s stand.
The statement reads: “NC has made its stand known. All party leaders and legislators have contributed their valuable views that have converged towards formulating stands taken by the party leadership and the core group on various issues. Those authorised to speak for the party will be available to the media to elaborate on the party policy.”
