Mufti set to begin second innings as JK Chief Minister
Swearing-in at 11 am in Jammu on Sunday; PDP Patron meeting Prime Minister today to seal the deal
PDP and BJP have ironed out their differences and reached a consensus on a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) that will form the basis of their unique coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir to be sworn-in at 11 AM on Sunday in at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, Jammu.
Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, founder-patron of PPD, flew in here this evening to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow which will be final step in his return as the state’s Chief Minister at the head of the coalition that will mark the first time ever for the BJP to be in power in the sensitive state.
Sayeed said on his arrival in New Delhi9 said that a CMP on which there has been a consensus has been made and now he will be meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow.
Refusing to talk about the understanding on contentious issues like Article 370 which gives special status to the state, he said, “I won’t talk on the issues. It (CMP) will come in black and white and the entire public of the country will see what we are doing.”
It is expected that Sayeed will invite Modi for the swearing-in function in Jammu.
The leadership of both the parties Thursday asserted that all hiccups were over and stage is set for Mufti-Modi meeting.
The meeting comes three days after the PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and BJP president Amit Shah sealed the alliance on government formation in J&K. “Mufti’s meeting with the PM will be a photo-opportunity-cum formal meet and more of a step to set the PDP-BJP government rolling,” they said, adding the two leaders shall also put a seal on the CMP for governance in JK.
“It’s a summit, very important one. It will set the tone and tenor of the alliance,” a senior PDP leader said, when asked about the significance of Modi-Mufti meeting.
A senior BJP leader said “all hiccups have ended and issues including controversial ones have been settled.”
“It’s time for a stable government in J&K,” the New Delhi-based BJP leader told Greater Kashmir.
PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akthar confirmed Mufti left for New Delhi at 4 pm. “He will meet the PM and we will have a stable government in JK soon,” Akhtar said.
Asked about reports of last minute hiccups between PDP and BJP, he said “there were no issues.”
The formal announcement on PDP-BJP alliance has already been made by Mehbooba and Shah in a joint press conference in New Delhi on February 24.
Senior BJP leader and party’s Core group member, Ashok Koul said all issues have been resolved amicably. “It is time to celebrate as JK will have a stable government soon,” he said.
On distribution of portfolios, Koul said they are working out a proposal about “who will get what.” “Nothing has been finalized yet,” he said.
Pertinently, while the BJP has already agreed on Mufti as a full-term Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh is likely to be his deputy.
Sayeed will be holding the portfolio of Home and newly elected PDP MLA Dr Haseeb Drabu may be the new finance minister.
The December 23 election results saw a highly-fractured mandate with PDP emerging as single largest party with 28 MLAs followed by BJP with 25. Erstwhile allies National Conference and Congress ended with 15 and 12 seats respectively.
BJP and PDP, which have been in negotiations for nearly two months now, have ironed out all the differences over contentious issues including Article 370, Armed Forces Special Powers Act, settlement of West Pakistan Refugees and holding talks with Pakistan and separatist leaders of the state.
