Stage set for revival of PDP-BJP government

The decks seem finally clear for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir with PDP and BJP set to convey their readiness to retain their alliance with Mehbooba Mufti as the chief ministerial nominee to governor N N Vohra.

The party delegations are likely to call on Vohra on Saturday with BJP also completing the in-house formality of endorsing Nirmal Singh as the deputy chief minister, as was the case when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the CM.

With Mehbooba and senior PDP members reaching Jammu to meet the governor in the winter capital, the protracted negotiations with BJP are likely to end with the terrorism-hit state getting its first woman chief minister.

PDP has indulged in some tough posturing since the death of Mufti Sayeed on January 7, demanding “assurances and time-lines” on certain issues and projects and BJP bridling at “conditionalities” prior to government-formation.

In the end, BJP was able to convince the new PDP leader that commitments can be emphasised once the government is in office while finance minister Arun Jaitley said Jammu and Kashmir’s interests will be fully safeguarded.

PDP and BJP are set to discuss modalities for government formation with Vohra inviting members of both parties to ascertain if a consensus has been reached after recent developments that saw Mehbooba meeting PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.BJP members and legislators nominated Nirmal Singh as the deputy chief minister for the next cabinet. He had held charge of housing and urban development in the Mufti Sayeed-led government during the 10 months it was in office.

The focus is now likely to shift to inductees in the new cabinet amid reports that there will be some chopping and changing with PDP likely to replace some ministers with younger faces.

Mehbooba flew to Jammu alongwith senior PDP members Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tariq Hameed Karra, former minister and MLA Abdul Rehman Veeri and former finance minister Haseeb Drabu.

The PDP and BJP presidents were scheduled to meet governor N N Vohra this evening about government formation and fix date for oath taking, but later requested for more time. BJP president Sat Sharma formally announced BJP’s decision to extend support to Mehbooba Mufti to head the next PDP-BJP government in the state.

Mehbooba in her half hour address to party legislators on Thursday at Srinagar during the legislature party meeting indicated that she is keen on greater accountability and that prospective ministers would be made responsible to the party, according to sources. She said that as and when government is formed both BJP and PDP ministers will have to move out of their constituencies and reach out to the people at grassroots level.