The PDP’s reaction came a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi met party chief Mehbooba at her Fairview residence in Srinagar.
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Whether it is deliberate mischief or there is some truth behind it, there is reason to scotch all speculation that Mehbooba Mufti is set to end her party’s alliance with the BJP. Sonia was accompanied by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress general secretary Ambika Soni, state Congress chief G A Mir and party leader Saifuddin Soz.
BJP has asked the PDP chief to agree on “rotational chief ministership” for Jammu and Kashmir, which has been rejected by Mehbooba.
The BJP, sources say, is keen on continuing in the government along with its alliance partner but has put some counter conditions for Mehbooba Mufti.
“Queried if BJP expected a smooth takeover by a new PDP-BJP government, Madhav, who had played a key role in firming up the coalition in March past year, said, “I am tempted to say it will be smooth”.
The PDP chief said it was because of the cooperative efforts at the political and administrative levels that various pioneering initiatives could be implemented in the state on the governance and developmental fronts, during both the stints of Sayeed, in shortest possible time.
Keen to reset terms of coalition, but will not overturn her late father’s last biggest political decision, suspense surrounds government formation in Jammu and Kashmir after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away. She must have expressed her grief.
Congress earlier shared power with PDP before having a bitter split in 2008. It’s only a matter of time when Mehbooba takes over as the first woman chief minister of the state. With Sonia’s closeness to Mehbooba now clear to all, the PDP leaders presume that the BJP would tread a cautious path while dealing with it. “It was only after Ram Madhav’s directions in his brief meeting with his lawmakers that they will not talk to the media which has prevented further escalation in tensions.”, a BJP leader said.
Governor’s Rule was imposed in the state on Saturday after Mehbooba Mufti refused to take oath before the traditional four-day mourning period ended. This is legally the last ditch effort by Vohra to avoid imposition of a short spell of governor’s rule in the state.
“They spurned that offer when we must it past year”, he said.
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She was with Ms. Mufti for about 20 minutes and their interaction promptly gave rise to speculation about the political significance of their meeting.
