The first signs of a thaw in the frosty relations between alliance partners in Jammu and Kashmir - the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), appeared on Tuesday with former’s leader Mehbooba Mufti seeking some more time from Governor NN Vohra to firm-up her stand on government formation in the state.
The feisty PDP president also met state’s former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh of the BJP in the state guest house on Tuesday. According to sources, the meeting between the two leaders was cordial, where Mehbooba clarified to the BJP representative that delay was not out of any political agenda but due to her worries on the financial condition of the state.
Talking to reporters after meeting Vohra who had invited her to clarify her stand, Mehbooba said the state, which is different from others, needs a “good atmosphere, space and a fillip” if a new government is to be formed.
Mufti has so far refused to take oath to succeed her father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed as chief minister, claiming that her terms for a renewal of partnership were non-negotiable.
However, insiders said that the BJP having managed to win over a section of the independent MLAs, and with the National Conference not showing any interest in biting the bullet, Mehbooba is left with no option but to go with the BJP.
“She would want an honourable deal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or at least BJP president Amit Shah standing guarantee for it,” said a source close to the PDP leadership.
“We want Centre to be fully with us,” Mehbooba told mediapersons, broadly indicating her demand. Repeatedly asked on what she wanted from the Centre, Mehbooba said there was a need for confidence building measures (CBMs).
Refusing to specify the CBMs, she referred to the ‘Agenda of Alliance’, saying it had been firmed up at the highest level by the two parties last year.
The Governor had invited Mehbooba Mufti as part of efforts to end the political impasse that has been prevailing in the state for nearly a month since chief minister Sayeed passed away on January 7.
Nirmal Singh and other state BJP leaders flew back from Delhi on Tuesday after a strategy meeting with party chief Amit Shah. Back in Jammu the BJP asserted that it had in the 10 months of partnership with the PDP honoured the “agenda of alliance”.