NC offers to back PDP

However, the outgoing Chief Minister says the onus of government formation lies primarily on BJP and PDP and his party will adopt a wait and watch approach

December 24, 2014 03:20 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 01:59 am IST - SRINAGAR

In a surprise move, the National Conference has offered support to its archrival, the People’s Democratic Party, in forming the next government in the State.

The outgoing Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, announced that his party had not closed that option.

“The PDP has fought this election on a regional agenda, and we don’t want them to say that they had no options,” NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu told The Hindu.

The National Conference’s offer of support to the People’s Democratic Party in forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party has come close to grabbing power after sweeping 25 seats in the Jammu region.

The BJP consolidated the region’s Hindu vote bank and from a single seat in 2002, had emerged as the second largest party this time, closely following the PDP that won 28 seats. None of the BJP’s seats came from the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley or the Ladakh region.

During its election campaign, the PDP had asked the people to vote for the party, telling them that only it could stop the BJP’s march. But when the results came, the PDP found itself needing the support of another major party to form the government and each of the options involved compromises.

“The onus of forming a government is on the PDP and we are only offering support. But we have not heard from the PDP since the Chief Minister made the offer,” Mr. Mattu said.

In fact, the PDP, which is seen as the valley’s most media-savvy and approachable political party, has completely cut itself off after the verdict on Tuesday. Its chief spokesperson has switched off his phone and the gates to its leader Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s official residence, which after the floods also doubles up as its headquarters, is closed. Even the party’s landline phones are not working.

“I don’t know if [outgoing Chief Minister] Omar Abdullah Sahib was really being serious in offering support,” PDP’s senior leader and MP Muzzafar Hussain Beigh, told The Hindu. “But even if he were, both the NC and the PDP are unfortunately seen as regional parties based in Kashmir. In such a government, the Jammu region will go unrepresented. So while it will be a majoritarian government, it will be not a representative one.”

Mr. Beigh said the easier option of a coalition with the Congress would make it a weak government that would have to live under the constant fear of crumbling if a single MLA opted out. “That government can exist theoretically, but not in reality.”

Omar resigns

Mr. Omar Abdullah called on Governor N.N. Vohra on Wednesday afternoon and submitted his resignation. An official spokesperson said Mr. Vohra accepted it, and asked him to continue in office till alternative arrangements were made.

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