State BJP leaders’ presence on the 40th mourning day of the late Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Sunday has been seen as an attempt to put up a joint face by the coalition partners who have failed to form a government in J&K after Mr. Sayeed’s demise on January 27.
A non-committal BJP leadership, the growing controversy over Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and killing of civilians have once again vitiated the atmosphere for the government formation. In the wake of the killings of two civilians in Pulwama, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti kept the obeisance offering at late Sayeed’s burial ground in Bijbehara town short. Ms. Mufti, accompanied by her mother Nusrat Ara, brother Tasaduq Mufti and sister Rubiaya Sayeed, briefly offered prayers at the resting place before leaving for Srinagar.
In the afternoon, top State BJP leaders, including party State president Sat Sharma, former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and former Forest Minister Bal Baghat, visited Ms. Mufti at her Srinagar residence. “There was no discussion on the government formation. We had gone there only to attend the 40th mourning day,” said Mr. Singh.
Former Education Minister and PDP leader Nayeem Akhtar told The Hindu that “the final decision on government formation will be taken by Ms. Mufti.”