BJP ropes in Advani to Talk with PDP

NEW DELHI : The fractured mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the recently concluded assembly elections has compelled the political parties to use old war horses to break the deadlock for forming the government in the state.

In one such example, the Bharatiya Janata Party that has emerged as the second largest political party in Jammu and Kashmir has roped in its senior leader and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to break the ice between BJP and PDP, who are in informal talks to forge an alliance since December 23.

Sources told The Citizen that Advani called up PDP Patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the two discussed the various possibilities of PDP-BJP government in the state.

The sources added that though there was no breakthrough in talks between two leaders, both the parties are optimistic that they will soon forge an alliance and form the upcoming Government in J&K.

According to the sources, PDP and BJP has reached an agreement under which PDP will get full term Chief Ministership and key ministries will go to BJP.

"PDP and BJP had reached an agreement under which Mufti would be the Chief Minister of state for six years and key ministries in Government will be given to BJP”.

However, while the BJP wants to nominate its candidate for deputy CM post, the adamant PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is against accommodating any such post.

“Mufti Sayeed has opposed the post of Deputy CM, an idea floated by BJP” the sources said.

The Citizen also learnt that that Mufti Sayeed has informed Advani that he will run the alliance Government under his own conditions without any interference from BJP and that BJP should not raise any issue which could harm the political life of PDP.

Meanwhile, as the stalemate continues, the BJP National president Amit Shah said that his party is looking at all possibilities to form the next Government in Jammu and Kashmir.

"All options are open for BJP in Jammu & Kashmir. We are looking at all possibilities to form government. I am hoping that a decision will come in this regard anytime," Amit Shah told reporters in Bengaluru.

The fractured mandate received by the political parties in the elections in J&K is emerging as a challenging phase for political history in Kashmir.

With PDP winning 28 seats, BJP 25, NC, 15 and Congress 12; all parties are eying on forming the government, with PDP and BJP leading from the front.