PDP continues to play guessing game on government formation

SRINAGAR: PDP continued to play the guessing game on the issue of forming the new government with its ally BJP by saying today that it cannot put a time frame for it.

Eight days after the sudden death of the party patron and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who headed the 10-month-old PDP-BJP coalition government, the party has not clarified its position amid persistent reports that it is unhappy with BJP over a variety of issues.

The issues believed to be nagging the PDP leadership range from Sayeed not being given proper respect when he passed away in Delhi on January 7 to meagre flow of funds from the Centre to the state which is now under a spell of Governor's rule.

"I cannot say anything on it," senior PDP leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar told reporters when asked how much time it will take the PDP to form the next government in the state.

Akhtar, who talked to reporters in Sayeed's hometown Bijbehara after 'fateha khwani' (special prayers) organised by the party in memory of the late leader at his grave, said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has not yet started consultations with senior party leadership on the issue of government formation.

"Mehbooba has not yet met her colleagues like (Muzaffar Hussain) Baigh, Dilawar (Mir) and others. After she holds consultations, the future course of action will be announced," said the PDP leader and one of the most trusted lieutenants of Sayeed.

Two days back, the PDP, which formed coalition government with BJP in view of hung verdict in assembly elections a year ago, said it was reviewing the progress made on implementing the 'Agenda of Alliance' between the two parties before embarking on fresh government formation in the state.

Against this background, union Finance Secretary R P Watal came here yesterday and met Mehbooba Mufti.

Though PDP said Watal had met Mehbooba just to express his condolences, the key official of the central government is believed to have explained to her about what has been done by the Modi government and what is in store for the state.

Meanwhile, opposition National Conference today sought to fish in the troubled waters as it asked PDP to break its "opportunistic" alliance with the BJP and hold fresh polls to give people of the state a chance to decide their fate.

"If PDP is truly not hungry for power at the cost of its own dignity and much more importantly that of the state, they should break their opportunistic alliance with the BJP and give the people a chance to decide their fate in fresh elections rather than asking the Prime Minister for a face saver," NC chief spokesman Aga Ruhullah Mehdi said in a statement.