Srinagar: The BJP on Friday made a formal announcement of support for forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir with the regional Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The party also elected its former state unit chief Nirmal Singh as its leader in the state Assembly. Singh was also nominated for the deputy chief minister’s post which he also held in the previous PDP-BJP government in the state.
A delegation of the saffron party headed by its J&K unit president Sat Pal Sharma is scheduled to meet the Governor N.N. Vohra late on Friday to convey the decision taken at its legislature party meet held in winter capital Jammu.
It will also hand over a letter to the Governor extending the party’s support to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti as the chief ministerial candidate.
56-year-old Mufti was on Thursday unanimously elected as the PDP’s legislature party leader at a meeting held in summer capital Srinagar, clearing decks for her to become the first woman chief minister of restive Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharma emerging from BJP legislators’ meet said, "The BJP legislature party has elected Nirmal Singh as its leader and nominated him for the deputy chief minister's post in the new coalition government." He added that the BJP also decided to extend support to Mufti to head the PDP-BJP government in the state.
The PDP president is also scheduled to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan later on Friday to stake claim to form the new government.
Besides all the 25 BJP MLAs, Friday’s meet was also attended by BJP party National General Secretary Ram Madhav and Minister of State in the PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh.
The duo was deputed by the party high command to meet the party’s legislators in Jammu to review the current political situation in the state and elicit their opinion ahead of Sharma’s meeting with the Governor.
Nirmal Singh served as the deputy chief minister in the Mufti Muhammad Sayeed-led PDP-BJP coalition that was in office for 10 months till Sayeed died in a Delhi hospital on January 7.
Following Sayeed’s death, his daughter and ‘heir apparent’ Mehbooba 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, delaying the process of government formation.
In view of this delay, the state was placed under Governor’s rule from the night of January 8.
Speaking to reporters, Jitendra Singh said that there was never a breakdown in the coalition with the PDP. "There has never been a break down in the coalition between the BJP and the PDP. It is just a continuation of the process which started about a year back," he asserted.
He added, "There were no differences. When you are in coalition then you have to take care of each other's priority and each other's preferences and that is what we do in a healthy coalition. And I am sure, this is going to augur well for the state of Jammu and Kashmir."
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.
Mufti is likely to quit as Lok Sabha member to contest by-election from Anantnag where from her father got elected in last Assembly elections as under the Constitution she has to get elected to either house of J&K Legislature within six months after taking over as Chief Minister.
