Govt formation in JK on its last lap

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is in Pune, would be returning to Delhi on today and sources claimed that Mehbooba and Madhav are expected to discuss the issues of Jammu and Kashmir government formation.

With Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expediting the process of government formation in restive Jammu and Kashmir by stating in Parliament that Centre was willing to walk an extra mile for the state, the BJP state president said talks about the government formation is on the final stage.
“We can say talks about the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir are on final stage. We will be going to Delhi on March 19 for deliberations and things will be clear by March 20,” Sat Sharma, BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir-unit president told Mail Today. He said the state BJP wanted the government formation to take place as soon as possible. “I think something positive is going on between the Centre and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” Sharma said.
After Jaitley’s commitment on the floor of the Parliament on Monday, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti left for the national Capital on Tuesday. The party is tightlipped about Mehbooba’s Delhi visit. A senior PDP leader said the party president was leading negotiations this time. “Some serious dialogue is taking place,” said a former minister in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government. Mehbooba didn’t pick up phone despite repeated calls. Another senior leader of the party Muzaffer Hussan Baig, who is an MP from north Kashmir, is in New Delhi. However sources said Mehbooba has not met Baig till now.
Meanwhile, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is in Pune, would be returning to the Capital on Thursday and sources claimed that Mehbooba and Madhav are expected to discuss the issues involving the Jammu and Kashmir government formation.
As developmental is taking Govt formation in Jammu and Kashmir on its last lap place in the state under the Governor’s rule, the PDP sees it in a positive light. A senior PDP leader said that all this augurs well for the government formation. “We had worked a lot for relief and rehabilitation and the Centre releasing relief money silently under the Governor’s rule speaks volume about the commitment of the Modi government towards the state,” the leader said wishing anonymity.
He added that the PM was doing more than what he had promised to the state. “Relations between India and Pakistan are improving, the state is getting funds in relief and rehabilitation, flood protection funds are also coming and we hope something would be done on NHPC as well,” he said indicating the PDP sees the release funds to the Governor as part of deal for the government formation.