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| BJP softens as Cong supports PDP | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 9: The BJP has softened its stand in seeking two more portfolios to back Mehbooba Mufti as Chief Minister after the Congress party reportedly extended its support to PDP to form Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
After death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, sources said the State BJP leaders had sought two more portfolios for supporting Mehbooba as Chief Minister.
However, the top Congress leaders attended Mufti's funeral has given rise to speculations that Congress was making efforts to form Government with PDP with help of Independent MLAs.
Sources said some of the Congress leaders were in touch with PDP leaders and expressed their support to PDP to form the non-BJP Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
"After Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's death, the BJP demanded a three-year term for CM for its party or two more portfolios of Home and Tourism Ministry.
But seeking the Congress party coming closer to the PDP, the BJP has decided not to put any demand before PDP and accepts Mehbooba Mufti as Chief Minister," sources within BJP told Early Times.
They said the BJP High Command has directed the party State unit that there should be no such conditions which could create differences between these two parties. "The BJP has no other option rather than to accept Mehbooba as Chief Minister and not to put any demands and affirmed the same arrangement as existed during the Mufti Sayeed's tenure," they said.
Sources said seeing the larger participation of Congress leaders in funeral procession of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has put the BJP in a tight spot and party has decided to soften its stand. Senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Saifdin Soz, GM Saroori and several other leaders participated in Mufti Sayeed's funeral.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, J&K Congress President along with Independent MLAs Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, MY Tarigami also visited the grave of Mufti in Bijbehara and offered special prayers. For the last three days, many Congress leaders visited Mufti's Fairview residence and offered condolences with bereaved family.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also visiting Srinagar today to offer condolences to Mufti Sayeed's family. Sonia is also scheduled to visit Bijbehara, the home town of Mufti to pay her reverence to the former Chief Minister. "She will be accompanied by many senior Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad who spent last three days in the Valley after Mufti's demise," a senior Congress leader said.
The Congress and the PDP had been allies in the past from 2002 to 2008.
The Congress had also supported the PDP before the latter formed Government with the BJP in March last year. PDP, with 28 seats, has emerged as the single largest party in the 87-member House. BJP has won 25 seats while NC got 17 and Congress has bagged 12 seats. BJP State President Sat Paul Sharma confirmed that there will be no conditions from his party's side to PDP.
"We respect the right of the bereaved family of Mufti Sahib to mourn his death," Sharma said.
Sharma said he had received a letter from the Governor on Government formation but the party will take a decision on it only after Sayeed's fourth day ceremony is observed on Sunday. |
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