KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
As the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday staked claim for government formation before the Governor N N Vohra, and her coronation as the first woman chief minister of the state is likely to be held after April 4.
After the 77-day stalemate between PDP and BJP, the leaders of the alliance partners Saturday afternoon met Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhawan in Jammu to form the government.
The PDP president, Mehbooba, who lead a joint delegation of PDP and BJP, handed over letter of support to the Governor.
Mehbooba was accompanied by senior leaders and MPs, Tariq Hameed Karra and Muzaffar Hussain Baig and BJP’s Dr Nirmal Singh.
However, the crowning of chief minister designate, Mehbooba Mufti, as the next elected head of the state is yet to be decided as BJP has not proposed the date yet.
Sources told KNS that PDP had proposed the oath taking day on April 4, but BJP is yet to choose the date.
“Till the BJP submits the date to the governor, the oath ceremony is delayed and may take place after April 4,” sources said.
Soon after coming out of the Raj Bhavan, Mehbooba expressed satisfaction for receiving support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We’re thankful to the BJP for their unconditional support in formation of Government in J&K. I am very satisfied with the assurances we received from PM Modi,” Mehbooba, the CM designate told reporters after meeting the governor.
BJP Legislative Party and deputy chief minister designate Nirmal Singh said that they have submitted letter of support to the governor where the BJP legislators have unanimously supported PDP in government formation. “We shall sit together with PDP and discuss all details & formalities,” Singh told reporters.
Sources said that the BJP’s state unit is persisting with its demand of three portfolios of tourism, finance and planning and MoS home, though the central BJP has told them to resolve it at local level.
“But PDP has out-rightly rejected the demand. PDP has already cleared to the BJP that it is the continuation of the same alliance that was agreed upon last year when former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed headed it. Besides, BJP has assured said that it is committed to the agenda of alliance,” sources said.
Sources said that BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav has conveyed to the PDP that the central BJP leadership does not back the demand of state unit in seeking the three portfolios.
The state is set to have an elected government again after more than two months when the Governor rule was imposed in January 8 after the death of former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7 at AIIMS.
Meanwhile, sources said that Mehbooba Mufti is scheduled to return Srinagar Sunday. She will be accompanied by Tariq Hameed Karra, who has cancelled his programme to Delhi.
