 "Farooq Abdullah bats for dissolution of Assembly, fresh polls")
"If they (PDP and BJP) cannot solve the problems of the people, the assembly must be dissolve and hold new elections," Farooq Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a private function here today.
Asked to comment on his yesterday's statement that his party's "doors were open" if BJP leadership approaches him to form the government in the state, he said, he had never said that his party was going with the BJP.
"I had never said that we are going with BJP, it has to be made clear. I only said that PDP should form the government with the BJP as they have the mandate. I only said that our party can discuss on anything in our working committee," the former J-K Chief Minister said.
Asserting that NC has only 15 MLAs in the Assembly and it cannot form the government with them, he said "We cannot take a decision as we don't have the mandate, we are only 14-15 people, and 14-15 people cannot form the government. I am not the one to take the decision, it is the party high command to take the decision."
He advised the coalition partners BJP and PDP to iron out their difference and form the government without any delay as it was not good for the border state.
"Delay is a bad thing, for this state. Delay is a bad thing it is a border state (that is) going through a difficult stage, they (PDP and BJP) have the mandate and they must sit down and solve the problems of the people that is why they were elected. And if they cannot solve the problems of the people they must dissolve the Assembly and hold a new election," he said.
With uncertainty looming large over the PDP-BJP alliance, Abdullah had yesterday said his party was ready to consider a tie-up with the saffron party for government formation if such an offer was received.
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"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 had told reporters in Katra, when asked about his party's stand if it gets a proposal from BJP for forming a coalition government in the state which is under the Governor's rule.
His comments had come as uncertainty prevailed over the fate of PDP-BJP coalition which ran government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for 10 months before his sudden death on January 7.
The NC patron and former J-K CM blamed 27-member PDP for the ongoing political uncertainty in the state.
"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," he had said.
Abdullah said NC never shied away from its role. "In 1996, when nobody was ready for election, we came forward."
"I again say that uncertainty is not good for the state and the situation would benefit our enemies," he had said.
He said it was Sayeed who had forged the alliance between the two parties and it was the responsibility of his daughter and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti to take their friendship ahead.
"But we have to first see that the friendship that existed should move forward. What is the benefit of such a friendship," Abdullah said.
He had said PDP and BJP should form the government at the earliest to end the political uncertainty in the state.
"I think, they should quickly form a government because the state cannot afford instability," he told reporters on the sidelines of a book release function in Jammu last evening.
He said the coalition partners, PDP and BJP, must take the decision at the earliest as the people of the state should not be left to suffer.
"Whatever they (PDP and BJP) do, they must do it now and must not wait. I think that is more important now it is the people that matter and people want solutions to their problems and that is what they (both the parties) should focus," he said.