No new conditions from PDP accepted: Ram Madhav

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday asserted that it has not accepted any new conditions from Mehbooba Mufti’s the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and threw the ball in her court, saying that her party has to make the next move for government formation in J&K.

Party General Secretary Ram Madhav’s assertion came a day after Mehbooba’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which she had termed as ‘very positive and good’, prompting speculation that their talks over government formation was back on track. “We have not accepted any new condition from the PDP,” Madhav, a party’s pointsman in the state, said. The talks between Modi and Mehbooba were cordial during which specific issues were not discussed, he said, adding that she also did not put up any condition during the meeting.

The alliance between two parties had run into rough weather following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as his daughter Mehbooba is believed to have sought assurances from the centre on certain political and economic issues close to her party's agenda. 

When it appeared that talks for government formation had fallen through after her unsuccessful meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah, her positive comments following the meeting with Modi were seen as a breakthrough. Asked about prospects of government formation, Madhav said PDP has to make the next move as he noted that its legislature party is meeting tomorrow.

BJP sources said Mehbooba has been told to discuss the nitty-gritty of the alliance with the saffron party leadership.

Mehbooba had announced on Tuesday that she would decide on the next course of action after the meeting. 

BJP on its part has maintained that it remains committed to the “Agenda of Alliance”, a document for the alliance government agreed between the BJP and PDP then headed by Sayeed. Madhav had last week stated that any new demand which Mehbooba has been making can be taken up by the state government with the Centre.

The central government cannot give assurances to political parties, BJP sources said.

After the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence, 56-year-old Mehbooba had told reporters on Tuesday it was “very positive” and “good” in addressing issues pertaining to the people of the state and that she was “very satisfied”.