Government Formation: ‘Mehbooba Not in Hurry’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

Uncertainty over government formation continues to loom over Jammu and Kashmir as according to some People’s Democratic Party legislators it is extremely difficult to “read the mind” of the party president Mehbooba Mufti. “Mehbooba Ji doesn’t seem interested at all in government formation and she didn’t talk about it at all with any party leader so far. We all wept after she broke down during party meeting sought forgiveness for her father and told us in a broken voice that she would need their support, more than before, in realizing her late father’s dreams. Her body language and attitude made it clear that she is not in hurry at all,” a PDP legislator told CNS on condition of anonymity.

The PDP legislator admitted that few BJP leaders shortly after the death of Mufti Sahab floated the idea of having “rotational chief minister” while other BJP ministers during a meeting with Ram Madhav even said that “BJP should make claim over Finance Ministry portfolio”. “Everything will become clear once we will convene a party meeting. These are all speculations and we have not obtained anything from the BJP either in writing or orally,” he said.

Another PDP leader said that the party chief is not happy over the working and functioning of Deputy Chief Minister and it is also upset the way BJP has been showing non-seriousness in implementing the “Agenda of Alliance”. “It will be premature to say anything at this point of time,” he said adding that “everything is possible in politics”.

Giving exact picture of the ground situation another PDP legislator from South Kashmir informed that Congress party has offered unconditional support to Mehbooba Mufti while some legislators including Hakim Yasin, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami and Engineer Rashid are also willing to support PDP. “We don’t want to face a situation tomorrow where any of the independent legislator will start ‘black-mailing’ us,” he said and added that the demands made by some BJP legislators are unacceptable. “We are not in hurry and will not compromise on anything,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bhartiya Janata Party members held a meeting in Jammu on Monday. A BJP leader said that the prevailing situation in the State was discussed in the meeting. He denied that BJP has put some demands before the People’s Democratic Party. “We will continue to honour the wishes and vision of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and will support PDP at every front,” he claimed adding that once Mehbooba will get over shock and grief, PDP-BJP government will be formed in the State again.