Hectic parleys on for govt formation in J&K

Omar Abdullah cancels trip to London; NC, BJP dismiss tie-up talk rumour

Hectic parleys are underway among three major political parties -, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National Conference (NC) - to cobble together an alliance to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports that NC chief Omar Abdullah had cancelled his proposed trip to London and held talks with BJP leaders on Thursday triggered rumours of a BJP-NC tie-up in the state. While the BJP dismissed the reports of any talks with the NC chief, a PTI report, quoting a Jammu NC leader, said there was no question of any alliance with the saffron party.

Sources said BJP has offered the post of deputy chief minister and a central berth to NC. The BJP is likely to select Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh as the parliamentary party leader in the J&K Assembly, making him the choice for the post of chief minister if BJP manages to muster enough numbers to form the government.

With reports of the BJP and NC attempting to form a coalition, the Congress state unit has urged all political parties to respect the mandate of the people. The Congress has announced an unconditional support to a PDP-led government. Pradesh Congress Committee President Saifuddin Soz, who described Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as "an experienced leader", stated that the PDP should be allowed to lead a coalition government in the state with the support of other like-minded parties. Speaking to Business Standard from Srinagar, Soz said, "This is a warning to forces of disruption to respect the mandate of the people. The PDP has been voted as the single largest party and it should be allowed to form a government with like-minded groups."

Soz said: "The game the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the BJP are playing is clear. It is a democratic verdict and they have to respect it."

"The RSS-BJP leadership should also appreciate the sensitivity of the people of this border state and not indulge in any kind of horse-trading. That kind of a short-sighted political arrangement would certainly attract a social commotion and spoil the gains from a credible, free and fair election concluded recently," Soz said. He stated the RSS-BJP leadership should resist the temptation of cobbling a coalition that "only deepens the polarisation on religious and regional considerations, which is to say the least, detrimental to the integrity of the state".

While both Abdullah and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav have denied reports of talks for a tie-up, political circles are abuzz with reports of a meeting between leaders of both parties. There is a talk that not only Omar but his father Farooq Abdullah, who is recuperating abroad, had also been contacted.

The Congress is aware that the BJP has an edge in the government formation. The BJP has 25 seats and it can get the required number with the support of NC (15) and Independents and Sajjad Lone's party (2).

Even though the Congress has extended full support to the PDP to form a coalition government, Congress sources said the PDP has not reached out to them.