J&K government formation: Show letters of support, Governor tells PDP, BJP

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Friday sent invitations to both the People’s Democratic Party and the BJP, the first and second largest parties in the just-concluded elections, to come forward for discussions on government formation in the state.

He wrote separately to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and state BJP chief Jugal Kishore inviting them to the Jammu Raj Bhavan for the consultations. The Governor should normally have invited only the PDP, that has emerged as the largest single party in the state, with 28 seats in the 87-member Assembly, but as the BJP has claimed it has the support of six out of seven Independents elected, it became necessary for Mr Vohra to invite both parties for discussions.

A Raj Bhavan official said reasonable time was given to them for discussions. The BJP has been called for the parleys by January 1, a source said. Some reports said the governor had also asked the two parties to come with letters of support from MLAs, including Independents, backing their claim to form the government, but there was no confirmation of this.