Sensing good opportunity to be part of Jammu and Kashmir government, Farooq Abdullah gave a new twist to the state politics by saying National Conference is open for alliance with BJP after which PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti hurriedly called a meeting of senior leaders on Sunday .
PDP and BJP had entered into post poll alliance to form the coalition government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. But with the sudden death of Sayeed on 7 January and Mehbooba and the state still in mourning , Jammu and Kashmir has been under president’s rule since January 9 as neither PDP nor BJP staked claimed for forming the government.
PDP insiders have said that After mourning period , Mehbooba will be able to rule Jammu and Kashmir as right now “She is not in a proper frame of mind.”
Mehbooba Mufti is chairing the meet of ‘extended core group’ of PDP .The meeting will be attended by party MPs, former ministers, and the senior party office bearers.
The meeting has been called in the backdrop of reports that Mehbooba is unhappy over a variety of issues with BJP, a party with which Mufti ran a coalition government for 10 months after tying up following a hung verdict in assembly elections.
The issues believed to be nagging the PDP leadership range from Sayeed not being given proper respect when he passed away in Delhi on January 7 to meagre flow of funds from the Centre to the state, which is now under a spell of governor’s rule.
In the 87-member Assembly, PDP has 27 MLAs while BJP has 25 legislators.
As uncertainty loomed large over the continuance of PDP-BJP alliance, National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah said on Saturday his party is ready to consider a tie-up with the BJP for government formation if such an offer is received.
“If such a proposal comes, then NC will call a Working Committee (meeting) and debate over it. If such a situation arises, NC can think over it as we have not closed the doors. Our doors are open,” he told reporters in Jammu.
Abdullah, whose party had earlier been a part of NDA, said, “NC never shies away from its role. In 1996 when nobody was ready for election, we came forward.”
The former chief minister said, “..uncertainty is not good for the state and the situation would benefit our enemies.” While attacking PDP, he added, “Uncertainty has been created by PDP as BJP is ready to form the government and God knows what PDP is thinking, I hope they end this and the government would continue.”
