Srinagar: Hitting out at the PDP, the Congress and the National Conference (NC), People's Conference chief Sajad Lone on Friday said their efforts to form a grand alliance were aimed at keeping a "third front" led by his party out of power.
The PDP and the NC consider Jammu and Kashmir their fiefdom and would never allow any other group to emerge, Lone told reporters with PDP 'defector' Imran Ansari by his side. "I have been questioned for tying up with the BJP. It's not a crime. The process of joining the BJP bandwagon started with Omar Abdullah, who was a poster boy for the Vajpayee government.
"What about Mehbooba ji, she was in power for the last three years with the help of the BJP only," he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir assembly was abruptly dissolved by the Governor Wednesday night, hours after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival NC and Congress. This was followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.
Lone, who had sent his letter staking claim through a WhatsApp message from midair, challenged the PDP chief to prove her majority on the floor of the house.
"Has anyone read her letter. I challenge her to take that letter to any lawyer and get relief from court. I am sure she will get relief. And (then) I will prove my majority if given a chance," he said.
Lone said his party has accepted the Governor's decision and was ready for fresh elections in the state.
"I have not lost my mind. If I staked the claim, (it means) we had the numbers. Imran (Ansari) has come and this is just the beginning. There is long line (of leaders) who will be coming from everywhere (other parties)," he said.
The People's Conference chief dismissed the allegations that he was trying to break the political parties to become the chief minister.
"There was a viewpoint that I was breaking the parties. There is a huge difference between breaking a party and working (doing) what is permissible within (according to) the Constitution. I have not written the Constitution or enacted the anti-defection law. It was made before we came," Lone said.
"If the MLAs feel that they are being sold out without being consulted, an opportunistic alliance is being made with those who they fought on the ground and they approach me, I cannot shut my doors on them. If some windfall comes, why should I say 'no'," he said.