Ending ten weeks of political uncertainty, the BJP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders on Saturday approached Governor N. N. Vohra and staked claim to form government.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, also chief ministerial candidate, State BJP president Sat Sharma and Nirmal Singh, also deputy chief ministerial candidate, met Mr. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu in the afternoon and extended the letters of support jointly.
PDP MPs Muzaffar Hussain Beigh and Tariq Hamid Karra, accompanied Ms. Mufti. She later thanked the BJP for its “unconditional support” over government formation.
Referring to the agenda of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, the former Chief Minister, Ms. Mufti pledged to “fulfil it with renewed vigour”.
“Mufti sahib's vision of development and peace will be fulfilled by the coalition government to be headed by me,” said Ms. Mufti.
Reacting to speculations over reshuffle of portfolios, Ms. Mufti said, “Portfolios are not important. That is something we can sit together and sort out.”
PDP spokesman Nayeem Akhtar told The Hindu that the date of the oath-taking ceremony would be mutually agreed upon by the coalition partners.
