PDP expects 'talking points' from Centre for Mehbooba Mufti's takeover as Jammu and Kashmir CM

NEW DELHI: As the PDP-BJP government-making efforts in J&K continue to linger even a fortnight after the death of Mufti Sayeed, PDP sources indicate the CM-in-waiting, Mehbooba Mufti, may be waiting for the Narendra Modi government to lob some “positive talking points” so that she could ease the unrest among MLAs and supporters over the political cost of aligning with BJP.

Such demonstrable “confidence building acts from Centre” on the agreed “agenda for good governance”, sources said, besides adding credibility to the continuance of the ruling alliance will also help Mehbooba to start her new innings on a positive note. The PDP leadership is learnt to have conveyed the expectation when finance secretary Ratan P Wattal, the Centre’s informal interlocutor met Mehabooba recently.

After Mufti’s death, some PDP MLAs and functionaries are all the more skeptical about the long-term cost of carrying on with BJP even though most have restrained from publically airing concerns. Soon after the end of the four-day mourning period, PDP LS MP Tariq Hamid Karra called for PDP realigning with, “secular parties such as the Congress.”

Even as BJP is awaiting Mehbooba to begin the modalities of government formation, PDP sources have pointed out that she is yet to convene even a meeting of PDP legislature party comprising 28 party MLAs, one nominated member and one attached member.

They further pointed out that only “select party leaders” were invited for last Sunday’s meeting, the first since Mufti’s death. “Only 10 former PDP Cabinet ministers, five party MPs, three PDP general secretaries and youth-wing leader were invited to last Sunday’s meeting, which was basically to extend support to Mehboobaji’s leadership and authorise her to carry out future engagements on government-making exercise (with BJP),” a PDP source said.