PDP toughens stand, wants concrete assurances from BJP

They did not say why government formation was taking time. PDP insiders told that the only way to end the logjam is to reopen a channel of communication, which was snapped after Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari’s visit to Ms. Mufti’s residence on January 10.

The shift stoked speculation that government formation would take longer than expected, though senior PDP leader Nayeem Akhtar sought to play down any link.

“Following Mufti Sahab’s demise, the family took his personal belongings out and vacated the CM’s designated official residence”.

Mehbooba intends to get certain immediate concessions to continue the alliance.

In Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, Mr. Sayeed lived at “Fairview”, the government-owned bungalow in the lap of Zabarvan hills overlooking the Dal Lake allotted to him after his first stint as Chief Minister was over in 2005.

Some indication in this regard may be obtained after she meets senior party workers and zonal presidents on January 31 in Srinagar to discuss the latest developments in the state including getting feedback from them on government formation. Which it termed as the sacred document composed by head of one partner party BJP PM Narendra Modi and the other PDP the then head late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The Mufti family not only vacated the residential house in Jammu, but also returned many security and government vehicles and personnel.

This assumes significance as Mehbooba is expected to be the next Chief Minister as PDP is the largest party in the Assembly even though she has maintained suspense over the issue.

Sources also said that Mehbooba wants no “needless” raking up of emotive issues such as political statements on beef and Article 370.

PDP, which is keeping everyone guessing over the government formation, today toughened its position, saying the ally BJP should hand out concrete assurances for implementation of the coalition’s common agenda since it is in power at the Centre.

Before, Mufti, former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Working President, Omar Abdullah stayed at the Wazarat Road residence for six years. Mehbooba ” s initial refusal to talk politics was attributed to her bereavement. His daughter Ms. Mufti who lived with him is likely to retain the accommodation as she is entitled to it being a member of Lok Sabha.

According to reports on Friday, the two parties are in touch with each other and the BJP’s national general secretary, Ram Madhav, who played a key role in stitching the alliance past year, reportedly kept in loop by the middle-rung PDP leadership about the issues hampering the continuation of the alliance.

The meetings have been convened three weeks after Governor’s Rule was imposed in the state after Sayeed’s death.