Ending months of impasse, Mehbooba stakes claim to form new government

Srinagar: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, met Jammu and Kashmir Governor, NN Voha, at Raj Bhavan in winter capital Jammu on Saturday afternoon to stake claim to form government with alliance partner BJP.

She was accompanied by BJP’s legislature party leader Dr. Nirmal Singh who was nominated by the saffron party as deputy chief minister, the post he held also in previous PDP-BJP government headed by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who died in a Delhi hospital on January 7. Singh handed over letter of support from BJP to Mufti for formation of the next government to the Governor.

Mufti’s two senior party colleagues Muzaffar Hussian Baig and Tariq Hameed Karra were with her.

After her meeting with the Governor, Mufti said the focus of her new government would be on peace, reconciliation and development in Jammu and Kashmir.

“I’m quite satisfied with the assurances made by Prime Minister, Narendra Modiji. We would jointly put into practice Mufti Sahib’s agenda of peace, reconciliation and development,” she said.

She said the date for oath taking is yet to be finalised. She thanked BJP for extending its “unconditional support” to her for government formation.

Endorsing her, Singh said, “We will sit together to work out future strategy.”

The 56-year-old PDP chief is likely to be sworn-in as Jammu and Kashmir’s first woman chief minister early next week as the Governor is expected to invite her to form the new PDP-BJP coalition government as soon as possible.

Raj Bhavan sources said a formal communiqué on the government formation will be issued later on Saturday.

Mufti was scheduled to meet the Governor on Friday afternoon to stake claim to form the government with BJP. But the meeting was deferred at last moment as discussions between the alliance partners over allotment of portfolios remained inconclusive.

PDP termed as baseless the “reports that there were differences between the alliance partners over the issue of distribution of portfolios in the new government.”

“There were no differences (between PDP and BJP). At a time when the government formation is in the process, rumours (on differences on distribution of portfolios) are baseless,” PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhter said on Saturday.

Late Friday evening, the PDP and BJP leaders requested Vohra that they may be allowed to meet him together at 3.30 pm on Saturday which he agreed to.

Earlier during the day on Friday, the BJP formally announced to form government with PDP and elected its former State unit chief Nirmal Singh as its leader in the State Assembly.

He was also nominated for the deputy chief minister’s post which he held in the previous PDP-BJP government in the State.

This was preceded by a meeting of the PDP’s legislature party held in Srinagar on Thursday at which Mufti was unanimously elected as its leader to pave the way for government formation.

Following Sayeed’s death, his daughter and ‘natural successor’ Mufti was reluctant to form the new government with the BJP and had publicly asked for J&K-specific Confidence-Building-Measures (CBMs) towards creating congenial atmosphere for stepping into her father’s shows.

In view of delay in government formation, Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Governor’s rule from the night of January 8.

PDP had won 28 seats in the November-December 2014 Assembly elections but after the death of its patron and former Chief Minister Sayeed its tally came down to 27.

However, it also has a nominated woman member in the 87-member House who has right to vote in government formation.

The BJP has 25 members but with pledging of support by two MLAs from Sajad Gani Lone’s Peoples’ Conference and an Independent, the saffron party is almost at par with the alliance partner in the number game.

The NC and Congress have 15 and 12 members, respectively whereas the remaining seats are being held by smaller parties and independents.

The PDP-BJP combine will have to take a trust vote in the State Assembly but having a total strength of 57 in the 87-member House its victory is certain.