Even though the Peoples Democratic Party is meeting on Sunday under the president, Mehbooba Mufti, its former alliance partner BJP said that the party is awaiting the decision of the PDP to elect a legislative party leader.
“After the demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, PDP has not elected its legislative party leader. PDP has to first show its cards, then BJP can say something,” BJP national vice president Avinash Rai Khanna said.
Khanna said that why the PDP did not elect its Legislative Party leader yet and set the process of government formation in motion, “We cannot comment on it”.
“We cannot compel any party for anything. First the PDP must choose a leader. We have chosen our leader,” Khanna said.
On how long will the BJP wait for PDP to form the government, he said that when a situation emerges out for government formation BJP will take a decision.
Asked that the PDP has demanded re-negotiating the ‘Agenda of Alliance’, Khanna said that the first step has not been completed thus far by the PDP.
“No statement has come from the PDP leadership over it. First let the PDP chose its leader,” he said.
The BJP leader said that the party is not desperate because in politics a number of things are first discussed and then a decision is taken.
“BJP will take a decision which is in the interest of the people Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Another BJP leader and former PHE minister, Sukhnandan Kumar said that the BJP’s is waiting for the word of Mehbooba Mufti over government formation.
“PDP leadership, Mehbooba Mufti, is the only official and authentic voice on government formation. She has not spoken a word yet with central BJP leadership. PDP has no communication with us as yet,” Kumar told KNS.
He said that the statements that have been reported so far have come from the PDP leaders in their own individual capacity and as their own opinion which could not be meant to be authentic.
Over the PDP “concrete assurance” demand on implementing the Agenda of Alliance, the BJP leader said the central leadership can decide about it.
“Only our central leadership can decide whether ‘Agenda of Alliance needs any changes. But I can say with surety that the earlier coalition with PDP was working on the agenda,” he said.
The political stalemate and suspense over government formation has clouded the state following the death of Mufti Sayeed and the state is under Governor Rule as the PDP and BJP has not taken any step to form the government.
Though the BJP may be looking eagerly at PDP’s Sunday meeting too, but the latter has hinted that the meeting would not be about discussing government formation.
“This (Sunday’s meeting) is not about government formation. It is about discussing agenda of peace, development set by Mufti Sahab and carrying forward his agenda and vision,” PDP senior leader Naeem Akhtar said.
BJP said that Governor Rule in the state was not for the benefit of the people.
“Under the Governor rule, people find it difficult to meet bureaucrats for their grievances. Meeting with elected representatives is easy for them. People are suffering a lot in the Governor rule,” Sukhnandan said.(Agencies)