Srinagar: PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said his party was taking it slow as it was a “tough call”. He also said: “No structured dialogue as such is on with any party at the moment.” The PDP, he said, had simultaneously stepped up its internal consultation process on cobbling up an alliance. “We’ve intensified internal consultation process. Party patron Mufti Sahib today spoke to many newly-elected legislators and will talk to others tomorrow. He has asked them to confer with party cadres to get the feedback on different options available to it,” Mr Akhtar said.
There are, however, indications that the two sides are inching towards an agreement on issues being picked up for threadbare discussion on a priority basis. Both have, however, denied media reports that said one major point on which the two do not differ any more is who will be chief minister of the state and for what period of time.
These reports claim that PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed will be chief minister of the coalition government for the full six years, as the BJP has agreed to renounce the idea it floated during the elections that J&K should break from tradition and have a Hindu chief minister from the Jammu region. Incidentally, the party has won all 25 seats now in its bag from Jammu, and none from either the Kashmir Valley or Ladakh. These reports had claimed, though, that there will be a BJP deputy chief minister, preferably a Hindu from Jammu, and six Cabinet ministers from the PDP and eight from the BJP. “This is very easy guess. Every government will need a chief minister and a few ministers,” Mr Akhtar said.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had said on Saturday that her party would reflect the best political and economic interests of the people of all three regions of the state. She said: “I want to assure my party cadres and the people that whatever decision is taken will be in the larger interests of the state and its people.” PDP sources said if talks with the BJP move towards a covenant, it will propose a district development model and regional councils for each of the state’s three regions — Ladakh, the Kashmir Valley and Jammu.
On the demand for revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, that gives sweeping powers to the security forces, the PDP will stick to its manifesto, that said it would review issues relating to the notifying of “disturbed areas” to pave the way for revocation of the contentious law. On Article 370, the PDP may propose that a thorough study of its legal aspects be made before any side wishes to make it a political issue. However, it is likely this other delicate issue on which the two differ will be put on the backburner to facilitate consensus on other important issues of governance.
The BJP has refused to confirm or deny that the two sides are inching towards agreement, but reiterated no ruling alliance can be formed in Jammu and Kashmir without its “direct and active participation”. Mr. Akhtar, on the other hand, said the PDP was trying to strike the best deal for all three regions of the state. “Our party president Mehbooba Ji has already made it clear that the PDP will represent and value in adequate measures the political aspirations and economic interests of all three regions and sub-regions of the state,” he said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday spoke to PDP patron Mufti Sayeed on the proposal of a “grand alliance” of the PDP, Congress and National Conference as earlier suggested by senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. Commenting on this and the NC’s offer of support, Mr Akhtar said: “As the single largest party we respect the support offered to us by other parties.” However, he refused to speak further on this issue.
