Srinagar: All eyes are on Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to come up with its decision on government formation. It seems that even though the party leadership has yet to decide its future course of action, there is a strong line of thinking in the PDP that the alliance with BJP has only proved detrimental to its interests and halted its growth, especially in Kashmir Valley.
A senior party leader and former education minister Naeem Akhtar makes no bones about ‘Agenda of Alliance’, the common minimum programme reached between the two sides for the government formation last year, has not made a real headway. “We will review how much the PDP has achieved vis-à-vis fulfilling ‘development vision’ of our patron and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,” he said adding “Mufti Sahib had a vision for making Jammu and Kashmir a modern state-the paradise of peace”.
He also said that the PDP will assess whether Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has taken any decisions on it. Elaborating, Mr. Akhtar who was very close to Mr. Sayeed asserted, “Our governance agenda included making smart cities, bringing the power projects presently under NHPC (National Hydel Power Corporation) back and see earliest completion of other development projects so that Mufti Sahib’s dream of making Jammu and Kashmir the fastest-growing state in the entire country is realised. We will analyse how much that has been achieved and whether we can work smoothly on the governance agenda in future.”
He insisted that the party leadership has not as yet sat down to discuss the issue and take the final call but made a meaningful remark that suggests other options are still open for the PDP on formation of government in the state. He said, “PDP had not formed the government with BJP for power. PDP is not power hungry. It always wanted to represent people of Jammu and Kashmir to fulfil their rights and expectations which they have from (rest of) the country. Today, our party has the same stand for the people.”
PDP spokesman Dr. Mehboob Beg had on Tuesday reportedly said that the terms of alliance already worked out with the BJP will continue to govern the relationship between the two parties in the next government. He also said the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will respect the people's mandate and carry forward the agenda of development set by the late chief minister Mr. Sayeed. But the party quickly distanced itself from his statement and said the issue has not come up for formal discussion in the party and, therefore, no decision has been taken.
Mr. Akhtar reiterating the party will review the progress made on Mr. Sayeed’s ‘vision” before taking a call on the issue said no time frame has been set for government formation. “It isn’t about time-frame but about frame of mind,” he asserted.
Sources in the PDP said that its leadership wants clear-cut assurances from the BJP leadership on the State’s ‘reasonable needs’ as it feels the latter has only gone back on certain commitments made in their ‘Agenda of Alliance’. One of its major concerns has been “fund-choking” by the Centre which, it believes, became a stumbling block in Mr. Sayeed’s ‘mission’ and also came in the way of the rehabilitation of September 2014 flood sufferers and overall developmental process. It is also quite unhappy over the Centre’s “unilaterally trimming” from the Prime Minister’s ‘development package’ the equity assured to the state for buying back two power projects from the NHPC that had received clearance from the PMO. “The party will assess whether Government of India has taken any decisions on these issues,” Mr. Akhtar said.
A senior BJP leader when asked about the PDP’s apprehensions said, “The Agenda of Alliance is for six years whereas we have been together in the government only for ten months. Hence it is too early to draw conclusions or pass judgements.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the BJP had asked PDP to take immediate call on the government formation. “I think Mehboobaji should take immediate call on the government formation. This uncertainty should end now. We want the development of the Jammu and Kashmir,” BJP national vice-president and its Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna was quoted as saying by local news agency KNS. He also sought an early decision from the PDP as to who will be heading the new government, saying “The party should choose who will be its leader. We cannot let the people to be in confusion. We believe that PDP will take some concrete decision in this regard.”
He, however, termed as “mere speculation” the reports that both parties have put up fresh conditions on the government formation. He said no political discussion had started between the sides as Ms. Mufti was in deep mourning following her father’s death last week.
Meanwhile, former transport minister and BJP leader from the State Abdul Gani Kohli has said PDP president cannot opt for alternatives “as she will not like to go against her father’s wish”. He told Rising Kashmir newspaper that Mr. Sayeed created a path in the form of BJP-PDP coalition for equitable development of the state and that Ms. Mufti who was closely attached to her father can’t deviate from this path. He also said, “Her father’s mission was to revive India-Pakistan talks and help it happen. So she cannot break alliance with BJP.”
