As the Bharatiya Janata Party officially remained tight-lipped on Saturday about government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, senior leaders said the party was in consultation with the major regional parties in the State to provide a “stable government’’ committed to development.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar, the Peoples Democratic Party said it was in informal contact with the BJP but added that “all options were open.”
“We are not going to be pressured into a hasty decision by all these rumours and false news that the political parties are sending out through the media,’’ PDP chief spokesperson Nayeem Akhter said in Srinagar. “[PDP chief] Mufti sahib is a patient man and he will take his time to arrive at the best possible decision.”
Mr. Akhter also said that the party was in informal contact with the BJP, though the two had no communication through formal channels.
While the PDP continues to mull its options over, the party issued a gag order to leaders, seemingly after Muzaffar Hussain Baig, MP, spoke to the media revealing a personal pro-BJP stance and a division of opinion within the party.
BJP Chief Minister
On the other hand, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav told presspersons that every party has issues, and when alliances were formed, they had to decide on how far to go. “The BJP is exploring the possibility of giving a good, stable government committed to development,” he said.
Whether it partners with the National Conference or the PDP, the sticking point for the BJP will be its insistence on taking the post of Chief Minister as the party seeks to share power in the border State for the first time.