J&K Gov asks PDP, BJP to make stand clear on govt formation

Moves for new government formation in Jammu and Kashmir gathered momentum today with Governor N N Vohra asking PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and state BJP chief to make their position clear on the issue.
As the state was in mourning following the demise of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba was reluctant to be sworn-in at least till the fourth day of the mourning, allies PDP and BJP held discussions on the way forward.
Raj Bhavan sources said the Governor has written to Mehbooba and state BJP chief Sat Pal Sharma seeking their formal stand on the new government formation.

"Besides being in touch with the leadership of the coalition government partners, Governor N N Vohra has also addressed letters by fax to Mehbooba Mufti, President PDP and Sat Pal Sharma, President BJP, to urgently inform him about their respective positions regarding formation of the new Government," a Rajbhawan spokesman said.
Yesterday, a delegation of PDP met the Governor and gave a letter which said all the 28 MLAs backed Mehbooba for the Chief Ministership.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav, who had played a key role in cobbling the coalition, held a meeting with party MLAs but deferred discussions on the succession issue till the four-day mourning period, according to Sharma.

"We will take it up after the fourth day of mourning," he said.
In view of the flux in the situation, there is a possibility that the state may come under a brief spell of President's Rule.