PDP, BJP want more time for consultations

After BJP reached out to PDP President Mehbooba Mufti ahead of her meeting with Jammu and Kashmir governor Narinder Nath Vohra, sources told this newspaper that both parties agreed to tell Raj Bhawan separately that they need more time to arrive at decision on government formation. Governor had called both the parties for separate talks on government formation.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has said that she was not averse to forming coalition government with BJP, but that she wanted written assurance for time-bound implementation of all points agreed between the two parties in the agenda of alliance.

Informed sources said that BJP leader Nirmal Singh held closed door discussions with PDP President Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu Circuit House before her meeting with the governor. Sources said that consultations were on between the two coalition partners. Mehbooba Mufti had earlier said that it was an unpopular decision to opt for an alliance with the BJP.

Nirmal Singh told the media in Jammu that they will continue to support the coalition government with PDP and said that the common minimum programme between them would be implemented in letter and spirit.

Informed sources said that PDP has conveyed to the governor that they were trying to continue the alliance and that they were in need of more time to take a final call in the matter. Earlier, BJP leader Nirmal Singh had said that the BJP would convey its support for PDP before the governor. He had aid that it is the PDP which has to decide whether to stake the claim to form the government.