PM Narendra Modi and PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's meeting postponed to February 27

NEW DELHI|SRINAGAR: The PDP-BJP alliance for government formation in J&K seems to have hit a speed bump as the scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Wednesday got postponed to February 27. While sources in BJP claimed that the PM had misgivings about putting the issue of Article 370 on the back burner. “It is an issue that the BJP has been fighting for and now we will have to remain silent for the sake of the coalition. The PM did not want to be seen as a party to the compromise,” revealed a senior BJP leader.

However, for the BJP it was a big thing to be part of the government in J&K, and the PM was advised that it would be bad optics if he cancelled his meeting with the PDP leader. The PDP had softened its stand on AFSPA.

Ruling out tensions, PDP in Srinagar said that the meeting between CM in-waiting Sayeed and PM Modi would take place over breakfast on Friday. The BJP in Delhi had not yet given a confirmation regarding the same. PDP sources claimed that the meeting was postponed because of PM’s busy schedule.

“From Common Minimum Programme to power sharing, almost everything is settled,” sources privy to the negotiations said. The swearing in of the new government was slated for March 1, and is unlikely to be postponed. Both the parties had agreed upon sharing of ministries and the lawmakers who will be inducted as cabinet ministers.

Party spokesperson Naeem Akhter confirmed in Jammu that they were yet to get the final goahead about the February 27 meeting from Delhi. Efforts were being made by the to parties to keep politics separate from governance.