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| Mufti tipped to be CM for six years, Prof Nirmal Singh likely to take oath as Deputy CM, BJP to get speaker's post | | PDP-BJP structured dialogue takes off | | Bashir Assad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 8: The much awaited structured dialogue between the Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party to finalize the Common Minimum Programme to form the new dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir started on Sunday.
Sources told Early Times the two parties have already formed a blue-print as to how the contentious issues would be addressed.
The PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is set to take over as the Chief Minister of J&K for a full term of six years. Sayeed has earlier served as the CM of the state from 2002-2005. BJP has agreed for the post of Deputy Chief Minister, and BJP leader Nirmal Singh is being considered for this post.
Early Times today learnt from the highly authoritative sources that while all other issues have been sorted out, only two issues are yet to be decided. These are revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the state as promised by PDP and the settlement of West Pakistani Refugees, a core ideological issue of BJP.
Sources said the BJP has principally agreed upon to put the abrogation of Article 370 and the delimitation issues on the backburner. Meanwhile, PDP has agreed not to insist on restoration of dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir.
Sources said the BJP had earlier put forth a formula suggesting that the chief minister's post would rotate between the two partners. For this purpose, BJP had offered a cabinet birth to a PDP MP in the union cabinet. Sources said the formula was not accepted by PDP. Finally, it has been agreed that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed would head the government for full six years.
Sources said that BJP had also insisted on the Finance and Home ministries for its MLAs. This too was not accepted by PDP. The issue has now been resolved, and these two ministries would now remain with PDP.
They said that in turn, BJP insisted on a special industrial package for Jammu.
An influential person, who facilitated the negotiations between the two parties said that BJP offered to revoke AFSPA from the entire Jammu region and keep it intact in Kashmir. This has not been accepted by the PDP.
It is learnt that BJP seems to be unrelenting on the West Pakistani Refugees issue, while PDP insists on completely lifting AFSPA from the entire state.
Sources said that PDP has agreed not to press for resumption of composite dialogue with Pakistan. Instead, PDP has asked for Kashmir-centric confidence-building measures to address the alienation of the people of Kashmir. This has been agreed upon by the BJP.
Sources added that the BJP has principally agreed to give a special economic package to the state for rebuilding the infrastructure damaged in the devastating floods of September 2014.
They said the BJP has agreed to extend full financial support to the next government to rebuild the state.
Sources added that representatives of the two parties are likely to find a middle ground to resolve the contentious issues of settlement of West Pakistan refugees and revocation of AFSPA from the state. This would be followed by both the parties finalizing the Common-Minimum Programme.
It is learnt that as soon as the two parties reach a formal understanding on the contentious issues, Governor N N Vohra would be informed regarding the swearing-in ceremony.
The person helping the two parties in working out the deal told ET that the new government would take oath within week's time. Dr. Nirmal Singh of BJP is likely to be sworn in as deputy chief minister of the state for six years. The post of Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly would be given to a BJP MLA. |
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