SRINAGAR: With BJP stepping up its activities to form its first ever government in Jammu and Kashmir, the other main player in the race – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also weighing all options to ensure not to miss the chance of leading the state for the next six years.
The newly elected BJP legislators met in winter capital Jammu under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and National Secretary Arun Singh, who were named as observers by the BJP parliamentary board yesterday, and the meeting lasted for three hours.
While the BJP leaders were in the huddle, media reports suggested that outgoing Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah met the BJP president Amit Shah and an alliance between the two parties are on the cards though both BJP and the National Conference denied the reports.
All the BJP legislators of the state have authorized party president to take final call on formation of a new government in the state, Jaitley told reporters immediately after the close-door meeting.
He said there are many options for the BJP to form the new government in Jammu and Kashmir.
I have personally talked to all elected legislators and taken their opinion about who should be the leader of Legislative Assembly, he said and added that, PDP has slightly more seats than us, but popular vote is with the BJP.
The Union minister said BJP had the best strike rate in Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections and as far the formation of a government in the state is concerned, the party legislators have authorized the central leadership to decide.
The peoples mandate shows that the BJP must be a part of the government and that towards achieving this goal the BJP will try to win the support of independent or unattached legislators, he said.
Asked what he discussed with the legislators, Jaitley said that,all of them discussed all the relevant issues including government formation in a hung House and who the leader should be in the new House and what role the party would be adopted.
He claimed there was a consensus that government should be formed and which benches the party should occupy.
He however, added that whoever forms the government, BJP will have a crucial role to play in view of the fact that it has the highest popular vote in the elections.
“We will go with three principles based on national and state interest. They are: strengthening of national sovereignty, development, and regional balance.
Asked what would by the partys strategy towards achieving what appears to be difficult if not unattainable for it, Mr. Jaitley said,
Whether to wait and watch or be active, we will not talk about the strategy to the media.
He added there were no two opinions among the MLAs on the strategy to be adopted.
In the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly PDP has got 28 seats with BJP a close second on 25.
NC and Congress have got 15 and 12 seats respectively. Sajad Gani Lones party Peoples Conference has got two seats and is likely to support BJP.
Hectic parleys are going on at Gupkar residence of PDP patron ever since the fractured mandate came to the light.
The party leaders are weighing all options and the consultations are ongoing with various stake-holders to form the government, PDP sources said adding PDP is trying to rope in Peoples Conference to brighten their chances for achiving the magic number of 44.
None of the PDP leaders including party president Mehbooba Mufti are willing to talk on the issue in open and reveal the strategy to be adopted.
Given the reaction by several National Conference leaders after the reports about possible alliance between NC and BJP for the formation of the government, the chances of former to return in the government seems bleak.
NCs Omar Abdullah attempt to woo the BJP to form the government drew open resentment by some party legislators including the Aga Rohulla who categorically opposed any such move.
Omars presence in the national capital on Thursday was being perceived as an attempt to get in touch with the BJP high command to chalk out possibilities of government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav, however, said his party will try to provide a stable government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, state unit of Congress strongly backed Mufti Mohammad Sayeed saying that the PDP patron should become the Chief Minister of the state as the party has received maximum seats in the assembly polls.
Some parties are trying to come to power in the state disrespecting peoples mandate of PDP holding the largest number of seats,State Congress president Saifuddin Soz said.
