Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra asks Mehbooba Mufti, BJP to clarify stand on government formation

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has called PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti and state BJP chief Sat Pal Sharma for meeting tomorrow asking them to clarify their stand on formation of government.

"Yes, Governor has called her (Mehbooba Mufti) for a meeting tomorrow," PDP spokesman Naeem Akhter told PTI today.

According to sources, the Governor sent a fax communication to the PDP Chief last evening for holding consultations.

Mehbooba is scheduled to meet the Governor tomorrow afternoon which will be followed by a meeting between Vohra and the BJP state president.

"Yes. We are going to meet the Governor tomorrow in the evening," Sharma said.

The core group of BJP met today at the residence of its General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Kaul to decide the future course of action, a day after Mehbooba asserted that her party will have to reassess whether it can continue its alliance with BJP to form government in the state.

In the backdrop of Governor's letter, the PDP has also called its Legislature Party meeting today.

The Governor's consultations with the PDP and BJP are seen as last ditch efforts to avoid snap assembly polls in the state as the regional party has toughened its stand.

After a four-hour long meeting with party leaders yesterday, Mehbooba had said PDP will take a call on government formation as and when it is confident that Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's vision and mission will be carried forward and implemented in letter and spirit.

"The Government of India shall have to take substantive measures towards implementation of the PDP-BJP 'Agenda of Alliance' in the interest of peace and stability in J-K and for this PDP needs a set timeframe to be worked out," she had said.

Meanwhile, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah today said that if PDP is not ready to form the government, fresh elections should be held.

"If PDP is not ready to form the government, then the only option is... call for fresh polls. No other party is ready to form government with them and if PDP also wants the same, then it is time they call for fresh polls. This is what should be done in a democracy," he said.

"We have only 15 MLAs and are in no capacity to form a government," Abdullah said.