PDP not in a hurry to form govt: Mehbooba

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday asserted that her party will not cobble up a majority for the sake of government formation in Jammu and Kashmir though she hinted that it was not averse to joining hands with BJP.
Mehbooba met Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhavan here in response to his invitation for discussions on government formation. The PDP chief maintained that the meeting was “informal”.
She said the “decisive but divided” mandate in the state was both a challenge and opportunity for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been talking about development.
Replying to questions over the issue of government formation, she told reporters that PDP’s priority is not to cobble up a majority for the sake of government formation.
“Whatever formation is firmed up, it should respect the mandate of the people and have the principle of reconciliation,” she said, adding “till that is not taken along, forming any government will be useless”.
Referring to Modi’s “dream” of development and addressing the problem of unemployment, the PDP chief said there cannot be “development till there is peace on the ground”.
In this regard, she invoked former Prime Minister and said “It is not possible till Vajpayeeji’s political process is taken forward.”
She said Vajpayee had started a political process. “Vajpayeeji had started dialogue with Hurriyat, he had started dialogue with Pakistan when L K advani was the Deputy Prime Minister. We got generous economic package. UPA continued it for some time and then stopped it.”
“It is not about BJP, NC or Congress but respect for PDP’s agenda for reconciliation. If leadership rises to occasion and takes this mandate head on, then government formation is a matter of 15 minutes,” the PDP chief said.
Mehbooba underlined that PDP had got “majority” in Kashmir valley while BJP had got “majority” in Jammu region and the mandate of the people needs to be respected.
Invoking Vajpayee, the PDP chief appeared to be giving clear signals that it may not be averse to discussions on government formation with BJP.
“For NDA government, it is a big responsibility. For Modi, it is a big responsibility. Jammu and Kashmir has been the biggest challenge for any PM right from Nehru till date,” Mehbooba told reporters in apparent signals to the BJP that the two can discuss contentious issues that come in the way of the two parties coming together.
While replying to questions, she cited media reports to say that PDP has the support of over 55 MLAs.