Efforts to revive PDP-BJP coalition hits roadblock

Efforts to revive the Bharatiya Janata Party-People’s Democratic Party coalition in Jammu and Kashmir have hit a roadblock with BJP making it clear that government cannot be formed on the basis of conditions.

A day after Mehbooba Mufti met BJP chief Amit Shah in New Delhi, her party sources also indicated that the back-channel talks between the two sides on formation of a new government have failed.

However, BJP general secretary, Ram Madhav, party's pointsman in the state, went on record to say that the stalemate that existed earlier continued and that conditions cannot be the basis for government formation.

"There is no progress. As far as we are concerned there is no change in conditions that existed when Mufti Mohammed Sayeed sahab was the chief minister. The only change is that Mufti Saheb is no longer there and it was for PDP to appoint a new leader and carry on," he told media persons.

Replying to questions on Mehbooba-Shah meeting, Madhav said, "There is no change in our stand. We have told them that a new government should be formed on the basis on conditions that existed earlier."

The PDP with 27 members of Legislative Assembly and the BJP with 25 members had formed an alliance on March one last year with Sayeed as the chief minister. Both the sides had formed an "Agenda of Alliance" which sought to address internal and external dimension of the state.

Asked about the new demands put forward by the PDP chief, Madhav said in clear terms that "whatever fresh has to done has to be done after government formation".

"The first thing is that no new demand is acceptable to us and the second thing is that if there are new demands then it can be taken up once a new government takes over.

"A state government always has a right to make demands to the Centre. A government cannot be formed on the basis of conditions," he said.

When asked if a new government will be formed, he said "I cannot say because the stalemate that existed earlier continues. The PDP had toughened its stance after Sayeed's demise by seeking concrete plans for the state's development including handing over of power projects to the state and vacation of land by army before the coalition could be resumed.

Governor's rule was imposed in the state on January 8 after Mehbooba decided against taking over the reins after her father's death.