BJP writes to J&K Governor, hopes alliance with PDP will continue

Bijbehara: Expressing confidence that BJP's alliance with PDP will continue in Jammu and Kashmir, its leader Nirmal Singh on Sunday said the party has written to Governor N N Vohra saying it will have a discussion on whatever decision the PDP takes.

"Till now we all were in mourning. We will see. There have been no discussions on that (government formation), (but) it is expected that the way things were going earlier, that (alliance) would continue. I am praying that we soon have a system in place," Singh, former Deputy Chief Minister, told PTI here.

"The party has said we want (discussion) and we have written a letter to the Governor yesterday and told him that we will have a discussion on whatever decision the PDP takes," he said.

Singh said no discussions on government formation in the state have taken place between PDP and BJP so far because of the customary four-day mourning period following the demise former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The mourning period ended today.

"Everyone is sad and mourning. After this, we will start discussions," he said when asked if BJP had any differences with its alliance partner over the succession of Sayeed's daughter and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti as the next Chief Minister. The state was yesterday put under Governor's rule as BJP.

Paying tributes to Mufti, Singh said Sayeed's endeavour was to provide good governance to Jammu and Kashmir.

"There is a huge responsibility now to provide good governance to people in his absence and to carry forward what he achieved in the last 10 months. A huge void has been created by his demise. Though he is not physically present now, his work and memories are before the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that needs to be carried forward," he said.