Srinagar: Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are yet to arrive at a concensus on government formation in the state. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which emerged as the top two parties in the Assembly elections held discussions on Thursday over government formation.
BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav held two separate rounds of talks with senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig. Madhav, who attended a meeting of a meeting of BJP's newly-elected MLAs in Jammu earlier in the day, also held a series of meetings in Srinagar with leaders of other Valley-based political parties as part of efforts to cobble up a government in the state.
Baig, earlier in the day, said BJP and PDP leadership should talk to each other for forming the next government. While PDP has secured 28 seats, BJP bagged 25 in the elections to the 87-member state Assembly.
PDP spokesman Samir Koul said that lines of communication have been opened with PDP for government formation. "Talks are going on with BJP over government-formation in the state but we are still at infancy stage. It will take some time before we can make any announcements," Koul said.
Asked if PDP would agree to rotational chief ministership with BJP, Koul said "not at this moment". He said there were certain issues like Article 370, that guarantees a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on which PDP is not going to compromise.
"There are differences on certain issues like the political agenda of PDP - Article 370, revocation of AFSPA from the state - which we cannot compromise on," he said. The PDP spokesman said the situation will be clearer in the next three to four days.
Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Ghani Lone, whose party has two MLAs, was the first to meet Madhav at a hotel. The sources said Peoples Democratic Front chairman Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, who won the recent assembly polls from Khan Sahib segment in Budgam district, also met the BJP leader for nearly 30 minutes.
Democratic Party (Nationalist) leader Ghulam Hassan Mir, a minister in the outgoing government led by Omar Abdullah, was another prominent leader to meet Madhav, the sources said. Mir was a minister in the National Conference-Congress coalition government from Congress quota.
Meanwhile, outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dismissed reports of any deal between the NC and the BJP over the issue of government formation. "So many stories doing the rounds about a BJP NC deal. Let me say this as strongly as possible - THERE IS NO DEAL NOR ANY DISCUSSION going on," he tweeted.
In another tweet, Omar hoped that someone from the PDP, BJP and Congress would form a government quickly. "I hope someone from the PDP/BJP/Cong steps up & forms a government in J&K quickly. Denying stupid rumours is fast becoming a full time job," he said.
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