KL Report
SRINAGAR
Governor NN Vohra’s deadline for political parties to sort out the issue of government formation ends on Monday.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed met Vohra two days ago and the two are understood to have discussed the issue.
According to reports, the PDP is believed to have sought assurances from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on certain key issues before the two parties can come together to form a government in the state.
While leaders of the two parties have been trying to draw up a common minimum programme (CMP), PDP has sought clarifications from BJP about their position over revocation of Article 370, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), delimitation issues and the chief minister’s tenure.
The party has declined to accept the offer of National Conference for support to formation of PDP-led government in the state.
Formation of government in the state has acquired further sense of urgency in view of the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls which will decide, among others, the fate of Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of Opposition from the Congress in the Upper House.
Election Commission of India last week announced that the election for four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on February 7.
The results of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on December 23 threw up a hung assembly with the PDP emerging as the single largest party bagging 28 seats in the 87-member house. The BJP came close second with 25 seats while National Conference bagged 15 seats followed by Congress with 12 seats and others winning seven seats.
Governor’s rule was imposed in the state on January 8, a day after former chief minister Omar Abdullah asked Vohra to relieve him of the caretaker responsibilities with immediate effect.
