Talking tough on the long pending issue regarding a decision on government formation in the Valley, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday set a deadline for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti.
Quoting BJP sources, IBN Live said the alliance partner has asked the PDP that it should take a final call on government formation in J&K before the Parliament’s Budget Session starting February 23.
The development comes a day after the former J&K chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah asked Mehbooba to form a government in the Valley or snap ties with alliance partner in the state BJP.
“Mehbooba Mufti must spell out clearly what she wants. Otherwise, she must have the courage to break the alliance and seek fresh elections in state,” he had said.
The former CM also made it clear that his party is not ready to support BJP in case the PDP-BJP alliance snaps.
Notably, from past ten months the PDP had been praising the alliance with the BJP. But recently, Mehbooba had indicated that she will not form a coalition government with the BJP in the Valley unless the Centre creates a “conducive atmosphere” by committing confidence building measures (CBMs) for the state.
The PDP, with 27 MLAs in the 87-member assembly, and the BJP with 25 legislators ran a coalition government headed by Mufti Sayeed for 10 months.
The state is without an elected government since January 7 when former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away in New Delhi. Governor’s rule was imposed in the state on January 8.
Governor NN Vohra on Thursday appointed two retired IAS officers as his advisors, a move seen as another indication that Jammu and Kashmir might remain without an elected government for long.