When asked if the BJP expected a smooth takeover by a new PDP-BJP government, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said: “I am tempted to say it will be smooth. We would like to know what they are thinking. The PDP has to be forthcoming.”
BJP legislators and other senior party leaders held a meeting in the winter capital Jammu on Monday to discuss the prevailing situation. Former minister for cooperative and BJP MLA Chering Dorjey said a majority of party legislators fully supported Ms Mehbooba Mufti as chief minister although some party members have floated the idea of a rotational chief minister at their meeting with the central leadership.
“During our recent meeting with Mr Madhav, almost all legislators supported Mehbooba Mufti and wished that the status quo should be maintained. But there were some legislators who floated the idea of a rotational chief minister and even demanded a reshuffle in Cabinet berths,” he told CNS news agency. Mr Dorje added: “Ram Madhav only sought opinions from us and left the final decision to the party high command. In a day or two, everything will be clear.”
A senior BJP leader, meanwhile, alleged on Monday that the Congress was trying to grab the opportunity to lure the PDP but hastened to add that the PDP and BJP would sit together in a few days on government formation. “Since the Congress is power-hungry, its leaders are trying to lure the PDP in order to grab power. But I can say everything is final between the PDP and BJP, and the leaderships of both parities will sit together in a few days for government formation,” senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Shamsher Singh Manhas told Srinagar news agency KNS.
He denied that the PDP had set conditions before the BJP on government formation.
“Some sections of the media are spreading rumours. There is no condition from the PDP. We have the common minimum programme — the Agenda of Alliance — which will be followed by both the parties. There will be no changes in the alliance of the PDP and BJP,” he said.
Earlier, when Mr Madhav was asked about the Congress president’s meeting with PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, he quipped: “What transpired (between them) I do not know, but I am tempted to believe that it was to express condolences.”
