PDP-BJP to Announce Coalition Govt on Feb23

NEW DELHI: The stalemate over the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to end on February 23. The decision was taken after a six member People’s Democratic party team met top BJP leaders in Delhi including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, to chart a final draft of Common Minimum Programme on which both parties are working since the last two months.

According to sources, the team which is stationed in Delhi from the last three days was joined yesterday by its President Mehbooba Mufti, who is believed to have had a one-on-one meeting with BJP National President Amit Shah after attending his son’s reception party in Delhi.

Besides working on the final “term sheet agreement” with the BJP, the PDP delegation will also prepare ground for the much awaited meeting between PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The six team members include MPs Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tariq Hameed Qara, Chief Spokesman Naeem Akhtar, MLAs Haseeb Drabu, Altaf Bukhari and Vikramaditya Singh.

According to the sources, both the parties have so far zeroed in on Common Minimum Programme (CMP) under which PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will lead the coalition Government in J&K for full six years term while the Senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh will be his deputy.

However, sources added that the BJP is also demanding the crucial Home or Finance portfolios while the PDP is quite reluctant.

The two parties have been on CMP since the last two months discussing about controversial issues like Article 370, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Uniform Civil Code.

"We want an agreement over controversial issues so that no political uncertainty will be faced during the government” said a PDP leader.

The leader added that if everything goes well, Mufti Sayeed will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi possibly on February 20 to sign the final agreement and declare government in the state.

In the Assembly elections, PDP emerged as the single largest party bagging 28 seats in the 87-member House, followed by BJP with 25 seats. However the National Conference and the Congress party just managed to win 15 and 12 seats respectively.

The state is currently under Governor’s rule, which was imposed on January 9, after "caretaker Chief Minister" Omar Abdullah resigned.