PDP may press for concessions from Centre before tie-up

Likely to seek deadline for return of 2 power projects

With PDP president Mehbooba Mufti maintaining silence about government formation, a top party leader today gave an indication that the party would seek political and economic concessions before forging an alliance, stating that it would first assess 10 months of performance.
Sources said PDP leaders were angry with the BJP for not fulfilling the promises made in the “Agenda of the Alliance”, which included the return of two power projects to the state.
The PDP was likely to seek a deadline from the Centre for return of the two projects and an assurance to fulfil the promises made in the “Agenda of the Alliance” on political and development fronts before forming the next government.
Naeem Akhter, former minister and aide of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, said the party was reviewing its performance in the last 10 months. “The question is not whether I will be a minister, but whether I am able to perform as a minister,” he said.
He said late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had a vision for Jammu and Kashmir. “Mufti Saheb had a vision about Kashmir. He wanted to see Jammu and Kashmir as abode of peace and economically developed model state,” Akhter said.
“We want to take stock of whether anything has been achieved in this regard during the last 10 months,” said the former minister. He said they did not want to occupy ministerial seats, but to do something for welfare of the people.
Another senior party leader who did not wish to be named said the party was seeking feedback from legislators, leaders and workers before it embarked on government formation or decided otherwise. The feedback included views on performance of the PDP-BJP government over the last 10 months.
The sources said senior leaders who had been informally meeting at Mufti’s Fair View residence had given a clear hint to the BJP that it was not in a hurry to form the government.
The latest development, which was likely to further delay government formation, came a day after the chief spokesman indicated that the PDP would continue its alliance with the BJP, but government formation would take time till the party president came out of mourning.
While Mehbooba had been keeping everyone guessing about her future moves and keeping cards close to her chest, PDP’s sulking Member of Parliament Tariq Hamid Karra had already asked the party president not to ally with the BJP.