Mehbooba Mufti keeps suspense on government formation

SRINAGAR: A day after being authorised to decide on government formation, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti maintained suspense over it today, apparently as she was still seeking feedback from party functionaries on the performance of coalition government with BJP headed by her late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The PDP core group, which met here yesterday, had authorised Mehbooba, who is tipped to be the next Chief Minister to succeed her later father Mufti Sayeed, to take the final call on alliance with the BJP.

However, she has not revealed her cards so far.

A senior PDP leader said Mehbooba was in no hurry to take a decision on continuing the alliance with the BJP for government formation.

"She is still in process of getting the feedback from the party functionaries about the implementation of Agenda of Alliance as well as performance of the government over the past 10 months," said the leader, who wished not to be named.

With the PDP president taking her time, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while the "evident" PDP-BJP coalition in the state was a foregone conclusion, there was an inexplicable delay in government formation.

Meanwhile, Independent MLAs are keenly watching the situation, hoping that the regional party would break away from the BJP giving them a chance.

Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed has suggested Mehbooba not to take a decision in haste over government formation.

"Though people deserve a popular government, addressing their political aspirations and protecting their rights is far more important than other all issues. Any well-wisher of Kashmiris should not force or compel Mehbooba to form the government in haste under current circumstances," he said.