PDP reconciliatory, BJP hopes for government formation in J&K

BJP, PDP hopeful of moving ahead with formation of coalition government in the state.

Jammu/New Delhi: Adopting a reconciliatory tone after weeks of tough-talk, PDP today said it has not demanded any confidence-building measures (CBMs) from its ally BJP as a pre-condition for government formation which will take "some time".

BJP, in turn, also sounded hopeful of moving ahead with formation of coalition government in the state which has been under the Governor's Rule since January 8, a day after the sudden death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh asserted that the alliance with BJP is in tact and there was no question of making any fresh demands to the coalition partner.

"It (formation of the government) is being looked into. We don't want alliance primarily for gaining the power. We want the alliance (government) to work for the people of the state. So it (government formation) will take some time," he told reporters in Jammu in response to questions over government formation.

He, however, did not reveal why the government formation will be delayed.

"Some things are confidential. If something is revealed before time, things get derailed," PDP MP and former state minister said while insisting that the issue of people wanting the government "is in our mind".

When attention was drawn to the demand by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti that the central BJP government should announce CBMs before any initiative could be taken to form the government, he claimed, "She (Mehbooba) has never said anything like CBMs. I don't know where from the newspapers have carried such a news about CBMs."

He went on to add, "CBMs actually take place between two hostile countries. It (PDP-BJP) is one alliance which has not disintegrated here. We are not talking to any enemy that we should demand CBMs."

Mehbooba, seen as a successor to her father Mufti Sayeed as Chief Minister, has earlier talked tough, asserting that PDP "cannot move forward" in forming government with BJP unless the Centre takes "tangible confidence-building measures" to address the causes of alienation and works towards a lasting solution to the state's problems.

She had also made it clear that she will not form the government with BJP if the Modi dispensation does not create a "conducive atmosphere" by committing CBMs for the state.