 "Rattled after her meet with Sonia, BJP wants Mehbooba to take over the reins soonest")
The BJP is a tad rattled after Mehbooba has not indicated when she will constitute her council of ministers. She has been in mourning after her father passed away last week. The state is currently under the Governor's rule. Mehbooba has also not betrayed any anxiety or get riled by reports that the BJP wants power sharing agreement to be reworked to have rotational chief ministerial tenures.
Today, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav rejected "speculation" that both parties have put up fresh conditions. "It is for PDP to take the first call from their side (on government formation). They have to decide about their leader and come forward. I hope they take a decision soon so that this kind of uncertainty ends," he said.
Madhav, who had negotiated the common minimum programme from BJP's side, said he was "tempted" to say the new PDP-BJP government formation to be smooth. "We will like to know what they are thinking. PDP has to be forthcoming." Madhav had met Mehbooba a couple of days back, but sources said she steered away from any political discussion.
The BJP leader rejected speculation surrounding Congress President Sonia Gandhi's meeting with Mehbooba and termed it purely a condolence meeting. The PDP has formed coalition governments with the Congress in the past. Another BJP leader pointed out that apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi having paid his respects to Sayeed, union minister Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari had also travelled to Srinagar to offer their condolences to Mehbooba and the Mufti family. Sources said Mehbooba might not have much of an equation with state level BJP leaders but has a good rapport with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Singh.
Madhav said the new government will continue to work on the "grand vision" of developing all three regions of the state - Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. The new chief minister will have the opportunity to constitute his council of minister afresh.
Today, Mehbooba praised Jammu and Kashmir's bureaucracy. In a statement, she expressed gratitude to the administration for "tireless" efforts in following through Sayeed's vision and commitment to address the demanding challenges confronting the state. Mehbooba resumed work as PDP president on Sunday evening at the end of four-day mourning period. However, she is yet to call the meeting of the PDP legislative party.