BJP deputes Ram Madhav to end J&K logjam

In an attempt to break the ongoing logjam in Jammu & Kashmir, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav is leaving for Jammu on Wednesday to give a fresh push to government formation in the state.

Madhav had played a key role in bringing together the PDP and the BJP last year to form a coalition government under Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

Madhav this time around would hold consultations with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti as a personal emissary of BJP president Amit Shah. Sources said Madhav was leaving for a positive dialogue with PDP on government formation.

Madhav’s visit got scheduled after PDP chief had on Friday last hinted at ending ties with BJP if the Centre did not announce confidence building measures to end the stalemate. Sources in BJP said, despite Mehbooba’s outward aggression she too was getting impatient on getting no response from either Shah or Prime Minister Narendra Modi on her demands.

According to party insiders, the agenda of the discussion includes talks on ‘special demands’ raised by PDP, issues over holding key ministerial portfolios and stand the of BJP on Article 370 among other issues.

According to party sources, given that the mourning period lasts 40 days, the party would like to end the stalemate and move ahead for government formation after February 16. The BJP wants to end the stalemate before the start of the Budget session.